The police today charged three brothers for the attempted murder of a senior Burmese diplomat after they were accused of attacking him with an axe in early April.

The trio who are all refugees from Burma were also charged for destruction of property after they were alleged to have set fire to the diplomatic mission in Malaysia.

The three, identfied by Bernama as Abul Fariyas, 42, Mohmad Salim, 33 and Muslim, 35, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Diplomat Khin Maung Lynn was hospitalised with severe wounds to his head and hands in the April 7 incident which left the embassy in Kuala Lumpur's Ampang diplomatic district gutted by fire.

Disgruntled

The men of Muslim Rohingyas origin are believed to have been disgruntled after trying for several days to have their documents verified by embassy staff.

They are in the process of verifying their documents to seek refugee status with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Around 2,500 Rohingya Muslims fled Burma for Malaysia in 1991-92, alleging persecution by the army, but most were later repatriated with the help of the United Nations.

Bernama said the three could be jailed for up to 20 years if found guilty of the charges.

The attack was the second breach of embassy security in Kuala Lumpur this year. On March 30, a small explosive device was thrown at the Australian high commission from a speeding car, but caused no injuries or damage. - AFP