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Burma to mourn cyclone's victims Burma to mourn cyclone's victims
(20 minutes 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 ally China began three days of official mourning for victims of the Sichuan earthquake. 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 could be more open to outside help and is now recognising the scale of the disaster it initially downplayed. 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.
Burma's secretive military rulers have allowed in very few foreign aid workers since the 2 May cyclone, which left about 78,000 dead and another 55,000 missing. Burmese state television announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast during the mourning period.
Burmese state television announced the national flag would be flown at half-mast during the mourning period.
"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.
But at a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Singapore on Monday, Burma promised to accept significantly more international aid to help cyclone victims.
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.
Correspondents say the junta appears to have accepted the need for foreign assistance, but remains fearful of giving uncontrolled access to Western aid workers.