Myanmar Update, U.S. Navy Ordered To Leave

After weeks of sitting of the coast of Burma and making 15 requests to assist with relief efforts that have been rejected by the ruling military junta. The United States Navy has been ordered to leave.

Many other relief agencies are expressing regret saying they desperately need the helicopters for heavy lifting and access to remote areas. Use of military helicopters though standard U.N. operating procedure has been rejected through fear of an invasion by the ruling military government.

The French, who proposed sending in relief without permission, have already had their navy leave the area.

AP: Video, U.S. Navy Leaving Area

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Myanmar Aid Update, U.S. Navy May Leave Area

Myanmar's military junta is creating more delays and havoc among relief workers and still refusing aid from some places.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a statement on the issue earlier today saying that he will make a decision in a matter of days about leaving the cost of Myanmar. In the statement he said "it's becoming pretty clear the regime is not going to let us help." He also added that as a result many more people in the country will die.

Asked if the military junta there is guilty of genocide, Gates said, "I tend to see genocide more as a purposeful elimination of people, this is more akin, in my view, to criminal neglect."

Speaking to reporters at the close of an international security conference here, Gates said the Myanmar representative at the forum did not seem interested in speaking with him. But, he said "it was interesting to watch as minister after minister described their respective unhappiness at their inability to get assistance in to Burma."

Myanmar, Finally Allows All Aid Workers In

The ruling Military Junta has finally allowed all aid workers into the country regardless of nationality.

The U.N. is saying that the Cyclone that struck the country has killed more than 130,000 people and left more than 2 million homeless.

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Videos of Myanmar from ireport

Photos of Myanmar from ireport