Burma's ruling military dictatorship has "strongly rejected" a statement by the Association of Southeast Asian nations condemning the trial of imprisoned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, while global outrage builds.

Thousands of refugees from Burma face a critical time this Christmas following Cyclone Nargis and volatile food prices. The warning comes from Christmas Bowl, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

While the world looks elsewhere, the humanitarian and political problems in Burma continue. But global church and development agencies are continuing to work on the short- and long-term development issues facing the country.

Christian Aid is appealing for more funds to help survivors of the Burma cyclone so partner organisations can continue to carry out vital relief and rehabilitation work.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has condemned the decision by Burma’s military regime to extend the house arrest of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her detention was due to expire this week, having spent over 12 of the last 18 years under house arrest.

Evangelical Christians have been urged to keep up their efforts to support relief work in the areas of China and Myanmar ravaged by recent natural disasters. The comments came yesterday from the Director of the Evangelical Alliance.

Burmese cyclone survivors face a massive crisis unless they are urgently delivered aid, leading aid agencies have warned - while Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on Burma's generals to ease restrictions on outside assistance.

Burma's military regime is distributing international aid today. But it is covering the boxes with the names of top generals in an effort to turn the relief effort for last week's devastating cyclone into a propaganda exercise.

Development agencies and United Nations officials are exasperated at the obstructiveness of the Burmese junta toward an international aid effort aimed at bringing desperately needed supplies to victims of the recent cyclone.