First US Aid Plane Touches Down in Burma, Government Refuses Help After Cyclone

THE first US aid flight has landed in Burma, where some 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis are still waiting for help.

A C-130 military transport plane flew into Rangoon yesterday from Thailand, carrying 12,700 kilograms of water, mosquito nets and blankets.

The arrival of the plane follows a week of delays and negotiations and is a huge concession by the nation's military junta.

Greeting the plane at Rangoon airport was the junta's Navy Commander-in-Chief Soe Thein, who promised to deliver the supplies "as soon as possible" to the cyclone-hit region, a US embassy official in Rangoon said.

US aid officials said they hoped it would be the the first of many US aid flights.

The arrival of the aid comes as criticism has mounted over Burma's handling of the disaster.

Aid should be dropped by air into Burma if access to the cyclone-hit country does not improve, Conservative leader David Cameron has said.

As concern grows at the limited relief reaching those in need, he said: "The sands of time are running out."

Gordon Brown urged the Burmese to give "unfettered access" to humanitarian agencies. The Royal Navy ship HMS Westminster is heading to the region.

Burma's military rulers say they will accept foreign aid but not workers.

A FURIOUS rescue worker has accused Burma's military junta of crimes against humanity for refusing to fast-track visas for aid officials.

"They say they will call, but it's always wait, wait, wait," said Pierre Fouillant of the French disaster rescue agency Comite de Secours Internationaux, after being turned away from Burma's embassy in the Thai capital.

"I've never seen delays like this, never," said the veteran of 10 humanitarian disasters.

"It's a crime against humanity. It should be against the law. It's like they are taking a gun and shooting their own people."

The UN said it was still awaiting 24 visas for its foreign staff, desperate to help the 1.5 million survivors of Cyclone Nargis.