UN relief supplies finally arrive in Myanmar

The first seven tons of United Nations relief supplies arrived in Myanmar by aircraft Thursday after days of excruciating delay during which the insular military junta resisted international offers of large-scale aid.

American officials said they also appeared to be close to an agreement with the government to send in aid and disaster experts, despite the acrimonious relations between the two nations and blunt recent criticisms of the junta by President George W. Bush and his wife Laura.

After five days during which aid organizations say the humanitarian situation in Myanmar has deteriorated, a spokesman for the United Nations World Food Program said seven tons of high-energy biscuits — a very small start — had arrived Thursday on a commercial flight from Bangkok and were already being distributed.

A chartered flight was on its way from Brindisi, southern Italy, carrying a larger load of mixed supplies, he said, and two more chartered aircraft were expected to follow soon.