The US secretary of state has condemned "just horrific" scenes of Rohingya suffering during a visit to Myanmar for talks with Aung Sang Suu Kyi.

Speaking during a joint conference with the country's leader, Rex Tillerson called for an impartial investigation into human rights abuses and for those who had committed them to be held accountable.

"We are deeply concerned by credible reports of widespread atrocities committed by Myanmar's security forces and by vigilantes who were unrestrained by the security forces," he said.

But he said the US was evaluating whether to use the term "ethnic cleansing" over the crisis and regarded levying sanctions against the state as "not advisable" at this time.

"We want to see Myanmar succeed," he said. "I have a hard time seeing how that helps resolve the crisis."


:: Explained: The Rohingya refugee crisis

Why has the world failed to stop Rohingyas being driven from Myanmar?

Mr Tillerson met Ms Suu Kyi and Myanmar's military chief Min Aung Hlaing, amid a crackdown in the country's Rakhine state that has seen more than 600,000 of the minority Rohingya population flee to neighbouring Bangladesh.

The operation has been condemned as ethnic cleansing by the UN, as well as monitors including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Sky News this week revealed the shocking extent of the crisis, reporting from a beach where thousands of people, including emaciated women and newborn babies, had been trapped for up to two months with little or no food and water.

Starvation and death on the beaches

Mr Tillerson did not rule out action, saying that targeted sanctions against individuals may be appropriate and committing to £47m in aid for refugees.

He also said the US was committed to transition in Myanmar and condemned attacks by Rohingya militant groups, which in August preceded the escalation in the country's Rakhine state.

The diplomat also described discussions between Myanmar and Bangladesh as encouraging, urging Myanmar authorities to protect all within its borders and for the states to cooperate on the repatriation of refugees.

:: Sky Crew: Harrowing plight will stay with us

Rohingya refugee: 'I watched my children drown'

Mr Tillerson's visit followed remarks to Sky News by US Diplomat Simon Henshaw, who said Ms Suu Kyi must "take responsibility" to end Rohingya persecution and foster conciliation.

Ms Suu Kyi insisted that she has "not been silent" with regard to the violence and stressed rule of law in ensuring peace and stability.

She had tried not to set ethnic communities against each other, she said.

Alex Crawford reports from a refugee camp in Bangladesh

Theresa May has also pledged to tackle what she called the "inhuman destruction of the Rohingya people".