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Burma to mourn cyclone's victims Burma to mourn cyclone's victims
(about 1 hour later)
Burma's junta has declared three days of official mourning for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, 17 days after the storm struck, state television has announced.Burma's junta has declared three days of official mourning for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, 17 days after the storm struck, state television has announced.
The move came as Burma's closest ally, China, began three days of mourning for its own disaster, the Sichuan quake.The move came as Burma's closest ally, China, began three days of mourning for its own disaster, the Sichuan quake.
Analysts say Burma's move may indicate it now recognises the scale of the disaster it initially downplayed, and could be more open to outside help.Analysts say Burma's move may indicate it now recognises the scale of the disaster it initially downplayed, and could be more open to outside help.
Earlier, Burma agreed at an emergency summit in Singapore to accept more aid.Earlier, Burma agreed at an emergency summit in Singapore to accept more aid.
Burmese state television announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast during the mourning period. Burma's secretive military rulers have been criticised for the slow response to the 2 May disaster, which left about 78,000 dead - more than double the number killed in China's earthquake.
The BBC's South East Asian correspondent Jonathan Head says Burma's junta still seems implacably opposed to using the US, French and British navy helicopters aboard ships anchored just off their coast.
But the firm line they have taken until now, that they can cope without foreign expertise, is softening, he says.
See a map of Burma's cyclone-affected areas
Burmese state television announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast during the mourning period, beginning on Tuesday.
"Because many people were killed by Cyclone Nargis, we have declared three days of mourning from 20 May to 22, and will lower flags to half-staff starting at 0900 (0230 GMT) on 20 May," the statement said."Because many people were killed by Cyclone Nargis, we have declared three days of mourning from 20 May to 22, and will lower flags to half-staff starting at 0900 (0230 GMT) on 20 May," the statement said.
Burma's secretive military rulers have been criticised for the slow response to the 2 May disaster, which left about 78,000 dead and another 55,000 missing. Asean role
But at a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Singapore on Monday, Burma promised to accept significantly more international aid to help cyclone victims. The regime has so far allowed only a trickle of aid to reach the 2.4m people estimated to be in desperate need of help.
However, it told the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit that it wanted the aid channelled through regional personnel and organisations, rather than Western agencies. At a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Singapore on Monday, Burma promised to accept significantly more international aid to help cyclone victims.
Correspondents say the junta appears to have accepted the need for foreign assistance, but remains fearful of giving uncontrolled access to Western aid workers. However, it told the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) summit it wanted the aid channelled through regional personnel and organisations, rather than Western agencies.
Asean members also said they would each send 30 medical personnel to Burma, in addition to teams already dispatched from India, Bangladesh and China.
The UN said its foreign staff were still barred from Burma's cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy Delta region.
Asean, a 10-member bloc which includes Burma, had been accused of not doing enough to persuade the generals to let in outside help.
Asean members held an emergency meeting to persuade Burma to accept foreign help Burma: How you can helpA tale of two tragedies European Union nations have warned that the junta could be committing a crime against humanity by blocking aid for survivors.
Burma's ruler Gen Than Shwe made what is thought to be his first public gesture towards the storm victims on Sunday, when he visited relief camps on the outskirts of Rangoon.
State television showed him inspecting relatively clean and neat rows of blue tents as some survivors clasped hands and bowed.
The UN's top humanitarian envoy, John Holmes, was allowed to briefly tour the Irrawaddy Delta on Monday.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected to visit Burma on Wednesday.
Gen Than Shwe had earlier refused to take telephone calls or respond to letters from Mr Ban.
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