YANGON, Myanmar, May 14 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said Wednesday the Myanmar government's efforts to aid victims of Cyclone Nargis have fallen "far, far too short."

Ban called for a greater effort to line up resources and aid workers to help storm victims, which the United Nations says includes at least 38,000 dead, more than 27,000 others missing and 2.5 million "severely affected" by the May 2 storm that devastated the country.

"Even though the Myanmar government has shown some sense of flexibility, at this time, it's far, far too short," Ban said. "The magnitude of this situation requires much more mobilization of resources and aid workers."

Ban made the comments as he was about to meet Wednesday with leaders of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to hold discussions to determine what "concrete measures" could be taken to persuade Mynamar's military junta to allow foreign aid workers into the country.

"Until now, regrettably, I think we have spent much of our time and energy in facilitating aid, getting food in, and visas being issued," he said.

Report: John Edwards backing Obama

WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards jumped off the political fence Wednesday to endorse Illinois Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton.

Edwards -- a former North Carolina U.S. senator who was John Kerry's running mate on the 2004 Democratic ticket -- announced his endorsement at an Obama campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Mich., telling the audience the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is down to "two amazing candidates."

The crowd booed when Edwards mentioned the name of Clinton, the New York senator who has remained in the race despite long odds that she can win the nomination over Obama.

Edwards praised Clinton both on her record in office and her presidential campaign.

"What she has shown is strength and character," he said.

"We are a stronger party because Hillary Clinton is a Democrat," said Edwards, "And we're going to have a stronger presidential nominee in the fall because of her work."

Edwards ended his second quest for the presidential nomination Jan. 30. He had won more than 20 pledged delegates to the party's Denver convention in August when he dropped out -- and could ask them to back Obama, CNN reported Wednesday.

In recent interviews, Edwards had refused to endorse either Clinton or Obama, saying he was unsure whether his endorsement would matter. Edwards had urged both remaining contenders to make ending poverty a central issue of the general election campaign.

16 terror suspects captured in Iraq

BAGHDAD, May 14 (UPI) -- Coalition forces caught 16 suspected terrorists Wednesday in Iraq, officials said.

The U.S. Defense Department said the terror suspects were arrested during military operations targeted at disrupting the al-Qaida network in Iraq.

A statement said in Mosul, forces captured a man wanted for planning and conducting bombing attacks on coalition forces.

West of Samarra, coalition forces captured an alleged associate of senior al-Qaida in Iraq leaders, the statement said.

On Tuesday, officials said an Iraqi special weapons and tactics team caught four suspected terrorists in Tal Afar, northwest of Baghdad. Those captured are suspected of recent bombings and attacks against civilians and coalition forces.

Iraqi army soldiers Tuesday also found a weapons cache in Mosul, which included 600 pounds of bulk explosives, grenades, 200 pounds of ammunition, 16 radios, three mortar tubes, a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, eight AK-47 assault rifles, a rocket, 10 dynamite blocks and five pipe bombs.

Woman in Spitzer case pleads guilty

NEW YORK, May 14 (UPI) -- A woman who booked clients for a call girl ring patronized by former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal prostitution charges.

Temeka Rachelle Lewis, 32, was charged in U.S. District Court with booking clients for the high-priced Emperor's Club VIP prostitution ring. Her guilty plea to money laundering and promotion of prostitution charges came in a Manhattan courtroom as Lewis' mother and sister were looking on, the New York Post reported.

Lewis was one of four defendants in the case that snared Spitzer. She was accused of lining up clients for the call girl ring, which referred to the ex-governor as "Client No. 9." Spitzer resigned from office March 12 and has not been charged in connection with the case.

Lewis could face about 16 months in prison, her attorney told the Post. He didn't say whether she had agreed to testify against others involved in the call girl ring, or if she would implicate Spitzer.