Burma's military has been accused of planting land mines in the path of Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence in its western Rakhine state.

Three boats carrying ethnic Rohingya fleeing violence in Burma have capsized in Bangladesh and 26 bodies of women and children have been recovered, officials said.

About 18,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled fresh violence in Burma and crossed into Bangladesh, with hundreds stranded in no man's land at the border, according to the International Organisation for Migration.