More British aid arrives to help Burma cyclone victims

MORE British aid for victims of Cyclone Nargis will arrive in Burma today amid concerns the country's military government is continuing to block relief efforts.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the UK would "stop at nothing" in trying to pressure the regime to help its people, but ruled out using military force.

He added: "The important thing to recognise is that the best way to get aid to the people of Burma is to make sure that we can work with the government of Burma to get it through."

Torrential tropical downpours today lashed Burma's Irrawaddy delta, deepening the misery of an estimated 2.5 million destitute survivors and further hampering aid efforts.

The United Nations has warned disease, hunger and thirst could cause a "second catastrophe" on a greater scale than the storm itself.

Mr Brown said: "We will stop at nothing in trying to pressure the regime into doing what any regime should have done long ago in the interests of their people."

The Government announced an extra £12 million in humanitarian aid for Burma, bringing the total to £17m so far.

The UN says more than 100,000 may have died as a result of the cyclone.