Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called for assistance from the international community to help victims of Cyclone Giri that struck north-western Burma in October.

Burma's ruling junta held a lavish welcome ceremony for a rare white elephant, a traditional symbol of power and prosperity, state media reported today.

A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook parts of north-western Burma today, damaging Buddhist temples believed to date to the 11th century.

Burma authorities claimed they seized weapons from Buddhist monasteries and announced dozens of new arrests, defying world outrage over their violent repression of protesters who sought an end to 45 years of dictatorship.

A relentless crackdown on Burma’s pro-democracy activists showed no sign of easing today as the junta announced that 78 more people had been detained, despite world outrage and new sanctions.