The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Singapore

Myanmar agreed Monday to let Southeast Asian neighbours send medical teams and coordinate international aid for its cyclone victims, estimating damage from the disaster at over 10 billion US dollars.

"The foreign ministers have agreed to establish an ASEAN-led coordinating mechanism," George Yeo said after an emergency meeting with his Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts, including Myanmar's Nyan Win.

"For a start, the Myanmar government has agreed to accept the immediate despatch of medical teams from all the ASEAN countries," said a statement issued by Yeo after the half-day talks in a Singapore luxury hotel.

The 10-member ASEAN will work with the United Nations to hold an "international pledging conference" in Myanmar's main city, Yangon, on May 25 to pool together aid for the victims, the minister said.