Myanmar: We are not to blame for migrant crisis

Myanmar has said it is not to blame for the escalating migrant crisis in the Andaman Sea.

More than 2,000 migrants have arrived in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia in recent weeks, with thousands more believed to be currently adrift at sea after tougher action on human traffickers led some captains and smugglers to abandon their boats.

While some are Bangladeshi economic migrants, many of those aboard the boats are Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

However, Major Zaw Htay, director of the office of the country's president, told the Associated Press: "We will not accept the allegations by some that Myanmar is the source of the problem."

He also said that Myanmar's government would not attend a meeting called by Thailand on the crisis "if 'Rohingya' is mentioned on the invitation", accusing governments of trying to divert attention from their own human smuggling and slavery problems by blaming his country.