US aid cannot be trusted: Myanmar junta

Myanmar turned down humanitarian aid aboard naval vessels from the United States, as well as Great Britain and France, which had sailed toward the Southeast Asian nation after Cyclone Nargis struck May 2-3.

State media has previously said that Myanmar feared Washington was using the cover of humanitarian aid to invade the country and steal its oil reserves.

The New Light of Myanmar newspaper said on Fiday that aid from nations who impose economic sanctions against Myanmar and push the UN Security Council to take actions against it ‘comes with strings attached’.

Despite such regular attacks by the junta against Western donor countries, celebrities, ordinary people and aid groups they have donated generously to help the cyclone victims.

Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Gates, JK Rowling and a clutch of Hollywood stars have been among the givers.

However, the United Nations said on Thursday that it has received about half the money it requested for cyclone relief, with some nations apparently delaying their donations because of concerns about restrictions imposed by the military government on foreign aid workers.