The United States has asked India, along with other nations, to use its influence on Myanmar to secure entry of the assistance teams into the cyclone-ravaged country. As many as 80,000 people had died in the deadly cyclone Nargis which had hit Myanmar last week, according to Myanmar officials.

US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said, "We have the US ambassador for ASEAN, Scot Marciel, in the region. And he is working the issue. We have also been in contact with China, Japan and India about their using whatever leverage and influence they might have with the Burmese regime". His remarks came in the backdrop of US first lady Laura Bush's recent remarks that India could help Yangon in a much better way than the United States.

Speaking at a news conference two days ago, Laura Bush had said, "I think India can help. India is close on the border there. I think there are a lot of ways they could help and get help there quickly, and maybe the Burmese government would accept it more readily from the Indian government than they do from the US government".

Source: various agencies on Thu, May 8, 2008.