U.N.: 1.5 Million Affected by Cyclone

UNITED NATIONS, May 8, 2008 — -- The United Nations estimates that at least 1.5 million people in Myanmar have been "severely affected" by Cyclone Nargis, U.N. humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at U.N. headquarters, Holmes said he was "disappointed" with the lack of progress being made in getting U.N. aid in.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was talking directly with the military junta's senior general, Than Shwe, topersuade him to remove obstacles, Holmes added.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau, editing by Frances Kerry)