SAVE MONEY ON TRAVEL DEALS

Four of the five berths at the port of Thilawa were empty recently, but sacks of rice bound for Bangladesh were being loaded for export, said drivers of at least 10 trucks waiting to deliver more rice to the docks who were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times.

The decision by the military junta in Myanmar, formerly Burma, to bar foreign aid workers from helping distribute food and relief supplies in the wake of last week's cyclone has caused an outcry from the United Nations and humanitarian groups. However, that stance hasn't stopped the government from continuing to market its rice for export, despite a desperate need for food in the hard-hit Irrawaddy River delta, the newspaper said.

The report quoted villagers near the port as saying government authorities "had handed out rations of rotting rice, apparently from ruined stocks in the port's massive warehouse." The storm destroyed nearly half the stored rice at Thilawa, the chief driver at the facility said.

 BREAKING STORIES

Obama shows electoral strength on economy

Fix trade and banking, economist says

CDC: Dog imported from Iraq had rabies

Bush to sign U.S. mercury export ban

Ban on China milk product imports grows

Grains trade mostly lower Wednesday

Grains trade mixed in Chicago

Candidates' basic economic ideas unchanged

Canada's retail trade flat in July

Candidates debate prep includes economy

Paulson, Dems negotiate $700B bailout bill

Obama blasts McCain on deregulation

Africa's bushmeat trade increasing

Russia: Politics shouldn't affect trade

Grains trade higher in Chicago Friday

McCain now says economy in crisis

Obama takes McCain to task on economy

Economist says deficit costs U.S. jobs

Grains trade lower in Chicago Wednesday

Poll: McCain makes gains on economy issue