US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has accused Burma's rulers of causing the loss of tens of thousands of lives because of its reluctance to accept international aid for victims of cyclone Nargis.
Speaking at a conference on international security in Singapore, Mr Gates said the US had tried as many as 15 times to get the country's military rulers to accept more aid, but that the generals had declined the offers.
Meanwhile, a senior UN official has criticised Burma's military leadership, after reports it had begun to evict homeless families from some government-run emergency camps.
Terje Skavdal said that forcing cyclone victims to return home is completely unacceptable.
