US slaps sanctions on Myanmar Army chief over Rohingya killings

The US has imposed sanctions on the Commander-in-Chief of Myanmar's armed forces and another three top military leaders of the Southeast Asian country for the extra-judicial executions of members of the Rohingya ethnic minority.

These are the most restrictive sanctions that the US has imposed so far in response to what a UN Special Commission last year called crimes against humanity committed by soldiers and militant groups against the Rohingya, Efe news reported.

"With this announcement, the United States is the first government to publicly take action with respect to the most senior leadership of the Burmese military," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Tuesday.