Washington: The United States today said it is urging Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, India and China to use any clout they have with Myanmar to allow relief teams into the cyclone-stricken nation.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Washington was contacting Asian countries to encourage them to "use whatever leverage they may have with the Burmese (Myanmar) government to allow assistance teams in."

McCormack mentioned the six Asian countries by name but said it was not an "exclusive" list and that others were also being asked for their help in pressuring Myanmar's government to allow the teams in.

The United States has a disaster assistance team on standby in neighboring Thailand, but McCormack said his government has not received visas yet from the Myanmar authorities.

"I'm not sure we ve been told no at this point, but at the very least it is not the case where they have been granted visas," McCormack told the daily briefing at the State Department.

The team would assess the damage and gear what aid is required.

Source : PTI