Burma's army has taken control of the ruined city of Meikhtila after several days of clashes between Buddhists and Muslims that killed dozens of people and left scores of buildings in flames.

It was the worst sectarian bloodshed to hit the southeast Asian nation this year. Truckloads of soldiers could be seen patrolling Meikhtila as some residents emerged from their homes for the first time since the bloodshed began on Wednesday. President Thein Sein imposed a state of emergency in the region on Friday in an attempt to stop the violence from spreading.

■BURMA