KUALA LUMPUR: The United States will focus on channelling assistance to Myanmar and hopes authorities there will allow aid to enter the country.

The first United States Ambassador for Asean Affairs, Scot Marciel, said the focus now was to do what was necessary to deliver assistance urgently to the people affected by cyclone Nargis.

The US has offered financial assistance through its embassy, and with the United Nations and other international non-governmental organisations to provide water, sanitation, food and temporary shelter.

Marciel said he was surprised that Myanmar's military junta was moving ahead with the planned new constitutional referendum despite the havoc created by the cyclone.

"It's clear that they have a disaster to deal with which requires all their attention and resources..
"It's a huge crisis and it just seems odd to me that the government would go ahead with the referendum in these circumstances."

He said the referendum would not contribute to Myanmar's national unity as it was not "free, fair nor credible".

"The constitution was written secretly by hand-picked groups and the government has suppressed all efforts by opponents to the constitution to have any form of open debate about it."

He said he hoped that Myanmar would accept assistance from the US and if it refused, the US would work with the UN and other organisations that are able to enter the country.