Pope Francis calls for 'justice and respect for human rights' in Myanmar

Following Rohingya crisis,Pope Francis has called for "justice and respect for human rights" during a speech in Myanmar, which has faced claims of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

                        

The pontiff urged respect "for each ethnicity and its identity" but did not to refer to Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority by name.

In recent months, more than 620,000 Rohingya have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state to Bangladesh amid a police crackdown which the UN has described as a "textbook example" of ethnic cleansing.

Speaking after a meeting with Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Pope Francis said civil conflict and hostilities in the country "have lasted all too long and created deep divisions".

"Religious differences need not be a source of division and distrust, but rather a force for unity, forgiveness, tolerance and wise nationbuilding," he added.

The head of the Catholic Church,Pope Francis has been pressured not to use the term "Rohingya" during his four-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh - the group is referred to as Bengalis and illegal immigrants in Myanmar.

Earlier, Aung San Suu Kyi referred to the Rohingya crisis as "a challenge" which had "captured the attention of the world".

Aung San Suu Kyi said she aimed to "bring out the beauty of diversity and to make it our strength by protecting rights, fostering tolerance and showing security for all".

The leader added: "As we address longstanding issues, social, economic and political, that have eroded trust and understanding, harmony and cooperation, between different communities in Rakhine, the support of our people and of good friends who only wish to see us succeed in our endeavours, has been invaluable."