Former US President Jimmy Carter expresses concern over Myanmar violence

YANGON, Myanmar – Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is expressing concern over a recent upsurge in sectarian violence in Myanmar.

Carter spoke Friday during a visit to the Southeast Asian country, where dozens of people were killed last month when unrest between Buddhists and minority Muslims shook the central city of Meikhtila.

Buddhist mobs ransacked and burned mosques and Muslim homes during the violence. It spread south from Meikhtila but has since subsided.

Carter said he told President Thein Sein during a meeting Wednesday that "mutual respect, compassion, tolerance, and empathy are the basis for a democratic society."

Carter also said he was disturbed about "reports of hate speech by some prominent people, even religious leaders."