U.N. appeals to junta

Last update: May 7, 2008 - 11:01 PM

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Myanmar's junta on Wednesday to speed the arrival of aid workers and relief supplies "in every way possible" to help an estimated 1 million people left homeless by Saturday's cyclone.

Four Asian citizens who are part of a U.N. emergency team were cleared by the government to enter Myanmar today, but a fifth member, a Westerner, got no permission, and nearly 40 others remained uncleared, the United Nations said.

INTERVENTION PLAN

As impatience mounted, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner proposed invoking a newly established U.N. doctrine known as "responsibility to protect" to deliver aid directly to people without awaiting official approval.

France pressed the idea at a U.N. Security Council meeting. But China, Russia, South Africa and Vietnam blocked the initiative on grounds that the council -- which deals with threats to international peace and security -- has no business meddling in a domestic crisis.

U.S. PREPARATIONS

The U.S. military was putting people and planes into position Wednesday in neighboring Thailand to help with the relief effort. But Myanmar's government had not accepted the U.S. offer to send aid, U.S. officials said. "The junta should please open its doors," said National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

AID APPEAL FRIDAY

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said the United Nations on Friday will be issuing an emergency appeal for assistance for the cyclone victims.

LATEST CASUALTY TOLL

Myanmar's state media said 22,980 people were killed and 42,119 were missing. Shari Villarosa, the top U.S. diplomat in in Yangon, said the number of dead could eventually exceed 100,000 because of scarce supplies of safe food and water and general unsanitary conditions.

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