Burma 'not ready for foreign aid workers'

Burma's military rulers have said they are not ready to let foreign aid workers into the country almost a week after it was hit by a devastating cyclone.

At least one relief flight has been turned away because a search and rescue team and media who had not received permission to enter the country were on board.

Other aid agencies have complained that staff visa applications have not been granted by the Burmese authorities.

More than 100,000 may have died when Cyclone Nargis tore through heavily populated coastal areas last Saturday.

Hundreds of thousands more have been left without food, medicine and shelter and the country's isolationist Government has been heavily criticised for delaying the international relief operation.

In a statement the military leadership said: "Currently Myanmar (Burma) has prioritised receiving emergency relief provisions and making strenuous effort delivering with it with its own labour to the affected areas."

It said it was grateful to the international community for its assistance, which has included 11 chartered planes loaded with aid supplies, but stressed the best way to help was to send material rather than personnel.

Monks and government workers have been seen clearing the streets of trees and other debris in Rangoon.

Young monks were sawing down fallen trees while large numbers of government workers wearing bright orange jackets piled leaves and branches into trucks.

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