Myanmar lashes foreign media over 'despicable' cyclone reports

MYANMAR: Myanmar on Friday accused foreign news agencies of fabricating stories about the devastation left by Cyclone Nargis, saying the reports were "despicable and inhuman" acts that exploited storm victims.

The government mouthpiece New Light of Myanmar lashed out at "self-seekers exploiting storm victims," who they said were "shooting video films featuring made up stories in the storm-affected areas ... and sending the videotapes to foreign news agencies."

"Those foreign news agencies are issuing such groundless news stories with the intention of tarnishing the image of Myanmar and misleading the international community," it said.

Cyclone Nargis left 133,000 people dead or missing. The United Nations says 2.4 million people need emergency aid in the wake of the storm, and that one million of them have yet to receive any help.

The official newspaper accused reporters of planting fake sources in the hardest-hit regions of the Irrawaddy Delta and then asking "leading questions and exaggerating the news stories and living conditions of the victims."

Yangon, Friday, AFP