US asks India, other nations to press Myanmar for relief teams

WASHINGTON: The United States has asked India along with other nations to use its influence with Myanmar to secure entry of the assistance teams into the cyclone-ravaged country.

"We have the US ambassador for ASEAN Scot Marciel in the region. And he is working the issue. We have also been in contact with China, Japan and India about their using whatever leverage and influence they might have with the Burmese regime," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said.

His remarks came in the backdrop of US first lady Laura Bush's recent remarks in which she suggested that India could help Yangon in a much better way than the United States, and that Myanmar's military junta might accept help from New Delhi "more readily".

Speaking at a news conference two days ago, Laura Bush had said "I think India can help. India is close on the border there. I think there are a lot of ways they could help and get help there quickly, and maybe the Burmese government would accept it more readily from the Indian government than they do from the US government".

Meanwhile, McCormack stated that the US government was in touch with the Burmese embassy to encourage access for US assistance and experts.

"We have also been in contact with neighbouring countries to Burma, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, to encourage them to use whatever leverage they may have with the Burmese government to allow assistance teams," he said.

As many as 80,000 people had died in the deadly cyclone Nargis which had hit Myanmar last week, according to Myanmar officials.