Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday described violence in west Myanmar between Buddhists and Muslims as a "huge international tragedy" and called for stronger control of the border with Bangladesh.

Suu Kyi, on a visit to neighbouring India, told NDTV news she had declined to speak out on behalf of stateless Rohingya Muslims who live on both sides of the border as she wanted to promote reconciliation after recent bloodshed.