Bangkok: A radical monk who for years has fanned the flames of religious chauvinism in Myanmar has been banned from giving sermons for a year by the country's top Buddhist body.

The rare sanction against Wirathu, who has led calls for restrictions on Myanmar's Muslim minority, comes amid deepening religious tensions in the Buddhist-majority country.

Myanmar's most senior monks, sitting on the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, said it imposed the ban because Wirathu "had delivered hate speech against religions to cause communal strife and hinder efforts to uphold the rule of law".

The council added Wirathu would face "action under the rule of law" for any breach of the order.