BURMA"GEN. THAN SHWE'S IRRESPONSIBLE DEATH MIX"

The U.N.'s top humanitarian official made fresh pleas to Myanmar's military government Tuesday to allow in more foreign aid for cyclone survivors, as the country began three days of mourning for the 134,000 dead and missing.




Flags at government offices, schools and large hotels in Myanmar were lowered to half-staff. But shops were open as usual and many people in Yangon said they had little idea of what the government-announced mourning entailed.

Some residents frustrated with the junta's response to the disaster called it a symbolic gesture that lacked sincerity.

"If they are sincere, they should welcome help from everyone," said Zin Moe, 32, who sells clothes. "They are not letting in aid quickly enough and people are angry."

The military-led regime said Monday it would allow its Asian neighbors to oversee distribution of foreign relief to cyclone survivors.

But most foreign aid workers still were banned from the storm-devastated area and the United Nations said only 20 percent of the survivors had received some form of international assistance.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• BURMA
• MYANMAR
• JUNTA
• CYCLONE
• NARGIS
• CHILDREN
• PEOPLE
• DISASTER