Burma's top leader has agreed to let all foreign aid workers into the country for relief work in cyclone-hit areas, UN head Ban Ki-moon has said.

Mr Ban announced the news after talks in Burma's remote capital, Naypyidaw, with Gen Than Shwe.

Burma's military leaders had previously refused to allow a full-scale relief effort by foreign aid workers, and claimed everything was under control.

About 78,000 people died and 56,000 are missing after the 2 May cyclone.

Mr Ban said he thought Gen Than's decision was a breakthrough.

'Show camp'

It is not clear exactly whether he has agreed to give visas to foreign aid workers or let them into the delta to deliver aid.

But the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, in Burma with the secretary general, says the move does appear to be a significant breakthrough.

The senior leader had until recently failed to respond to the secretary general's letters and phone calls.

On Thursday, Mr Ban flew over flooded rice fields and destroyed villages and visited a government relief camp in the Irrawaddy delta.

A UN official privately called it a "show camp", our correspondent says.

He said he was "very upset" by the devastation he saw, adding that the international community stood ready to overcome the tragedy.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Myanmar children

BBC