Thai PM to go to Rangoon on Sunday

The dispatch of Lt Gen Niphat Thonglek, director of Supreme Command's Boundary Affairs Department, to the capital of Nay Pyi Taw came as Burma declined Thai request for Samak to visit the country scheduled for Sunday.

Samak told reporters earlier that he was contacted by Burmese generals in Nay Pyi Taw for him to visit the country on Sunday.

But Burma later informed the Thai side that the junta would be too busy with the people effected by the deadly cyclone to welcome Samak, a government source said.

Lt Gen Niphat and Thai Ambassador to Burma Bansarn Bunnag would carry a letter from Samak to Burma's Prime Minister Thein Sein.

UK ambassador Quinton Quayle met Samak on Thursday to discuss possibility that Samak would fly to see the generals in Nay Pyi Taw, to help negotiate with Burma to grant visa for the foreign foreign workers.

Samak earlier said he will go to Rangoon on Sunday to talk to Burmese junta to allow the international countries to deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of storm victims in the country.

Samak said UK Ambassador to Thailand Quinton Mark Quayle.

"I will travel to Burma this Sunday," Samak said.

His travel came after the Burmese junta did not permit the international countries to enter the country to help millions of the Burmese who were effected by the Nargis Cyclone.

The Burmese government has said some 30,000 people were killed by the cyclone but it is estimated the number could reach 100,000.

The United States desperately sought Thailand's help to get into cyclone-ravaged Burma and deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of storm victims in the secretive country.

US Ambassador Eric John met Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to ask him to facilitate permission from Burmese leaders for the US emergency relief team to enter the country.

Samak gave some assurance that he and his government would work closely with the US to help Burma, John said.