Pompeo decries 'ethnic cleansing' in Myanmar

WASHINGTON, Aug 26 (Reuters): The United States will continue to hold accountable those responsible for what he described as the "abhorrent ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday.

Pompeo's statement came on the one year anniversary of the conflict in western Myanmar's Rakhine state that drove more than 700,000 Rohingya from their homes into neighboring Bangladesh.

"A year ago, following deadly militant attacks, security forces responded by launching abhorrent ethnic cleansing of ethnic #Rohingya in Burma," Pompeo said on Twitter, using an alternative name for Myanmar.

"The US will continue to hold those responsible accountable. The military must respect human rights for Burma's democracy to succeed."

The military ruled Myanmar for nearly 50 years after seizing power in a 1962 coup and retains considerable powers under a 2008 constitution.

Myanmar government spokesmen Zaw Htay was unavailable for comment on Sunday.

The government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has denied refugees' allegations of atrocities.

Earlier this month, the United States imposed sanctions on four Myanmar military and police commanders and two army units, accusing them of "ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims and widespread human rights abuses across the Southeast Asian nation.

International pressure on Myanmar has been growing as UN-mandated investigators are set to publish a report on the crisis on Monday and the United Nations Security Council will hold a briefing on Myanmar on Tuesday.