In pictures: Burma's plight

Burma has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, which hit the country on 2 May. Official figures put the number of dead at 78,000, with another 55,000 missing.

Some 2.4 million people in Burma are estimated to be in urgent need of help in the wake of the storm.

Some aid has got through, but agencies have said it is only a fraction of what is needed. EU nations have said Burma's military regime could be committing a crime against humanity by blocking relief.

At a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Singapore, the regime's line appeared to be softening as it agreed to accept significantly more international aid.

The day before, Burma's leader General Than Shwe had visited a camp for cyclone victims near Rangoon where he checked the quality of the drinking water in front of other top military officials.

Meanwhile, residents in Rangoon celebrated the Buddha's birthday on Monday by watering sacred Banyan trees.