Children killed in Myanmar school fire

Thirteen children have been killed after a fire, apparently caused by an electrical fault, engulfed an Islamic school dormitory in Myanmar's largest city.

The dead in Tuesday's fire in Yangon, all boys, died of suffocation in the early morning, witnesses and officials said.

Police officer Thet Lwin said the fire was triggered by an overheated inverter "and not due to any criminal activity".The building housed a mosque and a religious school where children were staying while taking a summer class.

Local residents said the victims were believed to be orphans.Riot police were deployed nearby as some Muslims gathering outside the charred building feared the fire was linked to sectarian violence that has shaken the nation.Neighbours and witnesses said it appeared the crowded dormitory locked its doors due to heightened security concerns."It seemed the boys didn't get a chance to get away because the doors were locked because of the unstable situation," a resident said.