Updated

The U.N. special adviser on Myanmar is calling on civilians in troubled Rakhine state to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from responding to recent fighting that led to the deaths of security personnel as well as civilians.

Vijay Nambiar expressed concern Tuesday at violent attacks by unidentified individuals and groups against border guards and security forces on Oct. 9 in three areas of Northern Rakhine that became deadly.

Longstanding discrimination by majority Buddhists against Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine exploded into bloody violence in 2012. More than 100,000 people, mostly Rohingyas, are still in displacement camps.

Nambiar said in a statement that authorities in the capital Naypyitaw informed him that instructions were issued from "the highest levels" to take action in accordance with the law "to maintain peace and avoid escalation."