Bush awaits Myanmar request for help

WASHINGTON, May 6 (UPI) -- The United States is ready to send in the Navy to help cyclone-ravaged Myanmar if the country's leaders ask for help, President George Bush said Tuesday.

"The United States has made an initial aid contribution, but we want to do a lot more," Bush said. "We're prepared to move U.S. Navy assets to help find those who've lost their lives, to help find the missing, to help stabilize the situation. But in order to do so, the military junta must allow our disaster assessment teams into the country."

Tens of thousands of people are reported dead or missing in the Southeast Asian nation, formerly known as Burma, with even more left homeless by the storm.

"Our message to the military rulers is: Let the United States come to help you help the people," Bush said. "Our hearts go out to the people of Burma. We want to help them deal with this terrible disaster."

So far, the United States has allocated $3.2 million toward the relief effort but doing more has been hindered by strained relations between the two countries.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the U.S. military has "any number of resources" that could be put in place to help deal with the crisis in Myanmar, the American Forces Press Service said Tuesday.

The Navy has three ships in the Gulf of Thailand that could be put into play, the press service said.