Georgia: Russia signs deal, no troop pull-out

Russia says its troops will stay in Georgia as long as they're needed, resisting international calls to pull them out of the country immediately.

Moscow has followed Georgia in signing a peace deal to end their conflict, but the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said they'd only withdraw their forces once additional security measures were in place.

Russia's conflict with Georgia erupted nine days ago over the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia, and Russian troops still control large parts of the country.

In Washington, President Bush again repeated his demands for Moscow to honour its agreement, though he said the signing of the deal was a hopeful step.

Burma: referendum vote despite cyclone

A referendum has taken place in cyclone-stricken Burma on a new constitution despite appeals to postpone the poll.

Opposition movements have denounced it as a way to enshrine the army's control of the country. People near the Thai border have told a BBC correspondent they'd felt compelled to vote 'yes' because of the presence of soldiers around polling stations.

The vote took place in the two-thirds of the country not affected by Cyclone Nargis, which is believed to have killed tens of thousands of people.

The United Nations says the first overland UN aid convoy has arrived in Burma -- although the military leadership there still refuses to allow in foreign relief workers.

Burma needs $130m more

The United Nations, which has launched additional $130m appeal for aid, says those in the worst-affected areas urgently need food, shelter and medical aid.

The UN's World Food Programme also says two more plane-loads have been impounded by the authorities.

The military regime refused to allow in foreign aid experts to direct the relief effort and said that, although it will accept money and aid, it must distribute all supplies itself.

That stance has been sharply criticised by aid organisations and foreign governments, which have urged it to open its doors to a full-scale foreign relief effort with time running out for the storm's neediest survivors.

Nargis Cyclone photos in Burma

Thousands dead in Burma cyclone

The Burmese authorities say nearly four-thousand people are confirmed dead following Saturday's cyclone, but that the total number could be much higher.

State television has named two towns in the Irrawaddy delta, Bogalay and Laputta where tens-of-thousands more people are feared dead.

Myanmar Nargis Cyclone

Burma being urged to open up to foreign aid

The United States is urging Burma to accept help following a cyclone which is reported to have killed more than ten thousand people.

The appeal was made by the First Lady, Laura Bush, who said the US had allocated two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in emergency aid.

Mrs Bush said US could come up with bigger package if Burma allowed in an American team to assess the disaster.

European Union, Japan and India have also offered emergency relief. Critics in Burma say the authorities have been slow to respond to the crisis and gave inadequate warnings about the approaching Cyclone.

Burmese junta has an uneasy relationship with foreign aid agencies but Burmese foreign minister Nyan Win said the country would welcome international assistance.

The UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-Moon said he was trying to find out the best way UN could help.

UN Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon said he has mobilised UN assesement team to find out what UN can do.

Rangoon residents told BBC that authorities have been unavailabe or slow to reach for assistence and this has caused anger and resentment among the people.

People are left to themselves to clear the debris following the storm but it would be some times before the situation is back to anywhere close to normal.