The Myanmar Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was damaged in a fire following an attack by a group of people Wednesday morning and minister-counselor of the embassy was injured in the attack.  

The incident occurred at 9.40 am when ambassador U Hla Maung and two officials were at the embassy in downtown Kuala Lumpur, Selangor Fire and Rescue Operations Chief Abu Bakar Katain said.

"We are not able to ascertain the cause of the fire and leaving it to the police to conduct their investigations," Abu Bakar told reporters at the scene.

According to sources, the group could be Myanmar refugees in Malaysia.

Abu Bakar said that 49 firemen in six fire engines -- three from the Hang Tuah fire station and one each from the Pudu, Ampang and Pandan Indah fire stations -- were involved in putting out the fire.

He said that the firemen arrived at the scene at 10.09 am and put out the blaze at 11.20 am.

Meanwhile, second secretary of the embassy, Myint Thein Win, said that the minister-counselor sustained injuries to his head and hands when he was attacked by three men armed with an axe.

He said that at about 9.30 am, three men climbed over the fence and held up the officials on entering the building.

"The three men then started to burn everything inside the building on the ground floor," he said.

He said that the trio had brought with them pieces of cloth dipped in petrol to start the fire.

The minister-counselor was attacked when he tried to stop them, he said.

"Due to the injuries, he is now undergoing an operation at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital," he said.

Thein Win said that the trio was believed to be attracting the attention of the embassy officials following the failure of one man's father to be declared an honorary war veteran as he was said to have fought in a war in Myanmar.

"However, the man did not submit the original copy of the certificate which should be written in the Myanmar language. Instead, he brought the English copy of the certificate," the official said.

He said that the man went to the embassy three days ago and again on Tuesday for the purpose.

According to police sources, the three men had been detained while a woman and her two children who were with the three men at the embassy had been questioned by the police.

Tens of thousands of immigrants from Myanmar live in Malaysia which is one of wealthiest countries in Southeast Asia.

Malaysia also attracts hundreds of asylum seekers from Myanmar, who claim they face persecution from Myanmar's military rulers.

The fire is the second security breach at a diplomatic mission in Kuala Lumpur in the past eight days, though they appear to be unrelated.

On March 30, someone threw an explosive device at Australia's High Commission in the city, scorching an outer wall but causing no major damage or injuries.

Police said the device was a bottle filled with firecracker powder. No arrests have been made.

(Xinhua News Agency April 8, 2004)