Fire tears through a village in Myanmar's countryside - part of a wave of sectarian violence in this deeply impoverished country.

These were the homes of Rohingyas, members of Myanmar's Muslim minority.

They were set ablaze by their Buddhist neighbours in what one man called a reprisal attack.

(SOUNDBITE) (Burmese) UNIDENTIFIED ETHNIC RAKHINE MAN SAYING:

"We are burning Rohingyas' houses because they live near our village and they gather at night and try to attack us. That's why we are burning their houses."

Myanmar's government sent in police to break up the violence, which has been concentrated in the western part of the country.

The region has been plagued by days of deadly clashes between Muslims and Buddhists, including a riot on Friday that left seven people dead.

Andrew Raven, Reuters