YANGON, Myanmar — Officials say a United Nations investigation indicates more than 40 Muslims were killed when a knife-wielding Buddhist mob attacked a village in western Myanmar last week.

They say scores more are missing and feared dead.

The officials say the details about the massacre were presented in a background briefing Wednesday to U.S. Embassy staff, humanitarian aid workers and others. The officials spoke on condition they not be identified because the results of the probe had not been officially released.

Myanmar presidential spokesman Ye Htut said Thursday he "strongly objects" to the U.N. claims.

He said the U.N.'s facts and figures are "totally wrong."

Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist nation of 60 million people, has been grappling with sectarian violence since June 2012.