Today's Update

BEIJING - Authorities believe more than 10,000 have been killed in the largest earthquake to hit China for 30 years. Nearly 1,300 troops and medics have arrived in Wenchuan County, the epicentre of Monday's 7.8 magnitude earthquake, to assist with recovery efforts.

Heavy rains and damaged roads from fallen boulders and landslides have delayed troops from reaching the worst-hit areas, such as Mianzhu where 10,000 people are thought to have been buried. In Beichuan county, about 50 km from the epicentre, 80 percent of buildings are reported to have been destroyed.

Authorities report that urgent supplies are needed, including tents, food and medicine. This has been China's worst earthquake since 1976 when 242,000 people were killed in Tangshan.

Daniel Schearf, who will be in Chengdu later today, Jamila Trindle and LA Times correspondent Barbara Demick in Beijing are covering this event.

BANGKOK - Aid to Burma has reached less than a third of Burmese victims affected by Cyclone Nargis says UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who described his frustration at what he called the Burmese government's "unacceptably slow" response to the cyclone, which hit the country 10 days ago.

A military leader, Vice-Admiral Soe Thein said Burma was grateful for the aid shipment from the United States which arrived on Monday, but that so far aid workers were not needed.

The military is insisting on controlling the distribution of aid, but they lack the equipment and expertise to do it well. The EU is to hold an emergency meeting on getting aid to Burma later today.

Amy Kazmin, Andrew Chant, Andrew Drummond, David Piper and Matthias Gebauer, who is awaiting a visa for Burma, in Bangkok are following developments in Burma.

KHARTOUM - Chad has closed its border with Sudan and suspended economic ties a day after Sudan cut diplomatic ties with the country. Sudanese authorities have accused Chad of backing the Justice and Equality Movement rebels, who attacked Omdurman, Khartoum's twin city across the River Nile, on Saturday.

Chadian authorities have denied any involvement with the attack, which was the closest raid to the capital city in five years. Sudan authorities have instituted a curfew in Omdurman and are continuing to hunt for suspected rebels throughout the city.

Andrew Heavens is reporting from Burma.

BEIRUT - US President George W Bush has vowed to help strengthen Lebanon's army so it can disarm Hezbollah forces. Bush, who was speaking to the BBC on Monday ahead of a trip to the Middle East later this week, said that the Shia Muslim group was destabilizing Lebanon.

At least 60 people have died in fighting between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah forces in Beirut and other cities. Fighting broke out again on Monday in the northern city of Tripoli. The military said it would use force - if necessary - to restore order, starting from 0600 (0300GMT) on Tuesday.

For the past 16 months, the country has been locked in a political standstill as the ruling coalition and Hezbollah disagree over the make-up of the government.

Borzou Daragahi, Ben Gilbert, Nicholas Noe and Hugh Macleod are reporting from Beirut.

BANGKOK - The first US aircraft carrying aid has arrived in Burma's capital Rangoon. The plane was given permission to land following a week of talks with the Burmese government.

Aid agencies however warn that the aid reaching the country, which was devastated by a cyclone nine days ago, is inadequate and that help has reached less than one third of people in need. Burmese TV reported on Sunday that the death toll had risen to 28,458, but aid agencies estimate that 100,000 have died and that this could rise to 1.5 million without provision of clean water and sanitation.

The European Union is to hold an emergency meeting on getting aid to Burma on Tuesday.

Amy Kazmin, Andrew Chant, Andrew Drummond, David Piper and Matthias Gebauer, who is awaiting a visa for Burma, in Bangkok are following developments in Burma.