Asean leaders address financial crisis at summit

South-east Asian leaders endorsed easier monetary policies and made a stand against protectionism on Sunday as they concluded a summit.

Thaksin supporters mob Thai premier's office

Thousands of supporters of ousted Thaksin Shinawatra surrounded the seat of government on Tuesday, reigniting the kingdom's political turmoil.

Thai PM admits migrants were towed out to sea

Abhisit Vejjajiva has admitted that authorities set boat people from Burma adrift, following weeks of allegations of cruelty against the migrants.

Burma cyclone aid to cost $1bn over three years

Rebuilding Burma's cyclone-devastated south and bringing aid to millions will cost $1-billion over the next three years, the UN and Asean say.

Burma junta unmoved, extends Suu Kyi arrest

Burma's junta extended the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Tuesday, a move likely to dismay Western nations who promised millions of dollars in aid after Cyclone Nargis. Officials drove to the Nobel laureate's lakeside Rangoon home to read out a six-month extension order in person.

Foreign aid workers enter Burma's cyclone-hit delta

Foreign aid workers on Tuesday pressed into Burma's Irrawaddy Delta, testing the junta's pledge to open up areas where one million people have yet to receive aid three weeks after the cyclone. Six foreign staff based in Rangoon with the United Nations Children's Fund were allowed to join teams of mainly Burma workers.

Ban: Burma agrees to allow in 'all' aid workers

In an apparent breakthrough for delivering help to millions of Burma's cyclone survivors, the military government agreed to allow in "all" aid workers, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon said on Friday. The UN Secretary General met junta supremo Than Shwe in his remote new capital of Naypyidaw for more than two hours to ask him to permit more foreign expertise.

Impassive Burma junta chief greets UN's Ban

With an impassive handshake, BUrma junta supremo Than Shwe greeted Ban Ki-moon in his remote new capital on Friday at the apex of a high-stakes aid mission by the United Nations chief for the victims of Cyclone Nargis. The 75-year-old Senior General's stony-faced silence gave no clues as to whether he would overcome his deep suspicions of the outside world.

UN chief presses case in Burma for more aid

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon flew to Burma on Thursday to press the ruling generals to allow a full-blown international aid effort for 2,4-million people left destitute by Cyclone Nargis. The government's official toll is 77 738 people killed and 55 917 missing, and it also estimates the damage to the economy at $10-billion.

Foreign powers lean on Burma to open up aid drive

Western powers kept up the pressure on Burma's generals on Thursday to allow a massive aid effort as relief workers struggled to help an estimated 2,5-million people left destitute by Cyclone Nargis. The European Union's top aid official has warned that the military government's restrictions on foreign aid workers were increasing the risk of starvation.

Burma going 'downhill on all fronts', says US

Burma is going "downhill on all fronts", a senior United States diplomat said during a visit to Vietnam on Monday, urging regional neighbours to pressure the junta running the country. "The regime in Burma is absolutely refusing to take any positive steps at all," said US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scot Marciel.