Myanmar constitution sails through referendum

Yangon: Myanmar's army-drafted constitution received over 90 per cent of the vote at this month's referendum, state media said on Monday.

The constitution received 92.4 per cent of votes. It is part of the government's “roadmap to democracy,'' which will result in elections planned for 2010.

Despite Cyclone Nargis' devastation, the vote garnered a 98.1 per cent turnout.

The vote had been delayed for two weeks following the devastating effects of the cyclone.

Meanwhile, foreign aid workers headed to the cyclone-ravaged Irrawaddy delta on Monday to see whether army-ruled Myanmar will honour a promise made by its top general to give them freedom of movement.

Donors pledged nearly $50 million in aid on Sunday but Western countries said much of the cash would be contingent on access to the delta, where 134,000 people are dead or missing and another 2.4 million clinging to survival.

Junta supremo Than Shwe promised visiting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last week that all aid officials and disaster assessment teams would be allowed in, "regardless of nationalities".