(CNN) -- The United Nations said Monday that it has begun pulling staff out of a western state of Myanmar where the government has declared a state of emergency following clashes between Muslims and Buddhists. The inter-ethnic violence in the state of Rakhine has killed at least 17 people in just over a week, according to official media. President Thein Sein's office issued an order imposing a state of emergency in Rakhine on Sunday, saying "riots and disturbances" had spread, according to the New Light of Myanmar, a government-run newspaper. The United Nations is temporarily relocating its staff from the area on a voluntary basis for safety reasons, said Ashok Nigam, the organization's resident and humanitarian coordinator in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city.
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NEW: Authorities threaten to censor reporting by non-government media
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Violence in western Myanmar has killed at least 17 people in recent days
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A state of emergency has been declared after clashes between Muslims and Buddhists
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"Anarchic actions are becoming widespread," says President Thein Sein
Attempts to reach the @placeholder authorities for comment on the matter on Monday were unsuccessful.