Kofi Annan

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the people of Burma are being harmed by the lack of an all-inclusive process for democracy and by restrictions on the work of aid organizations there.

In a new report on the situation in Burma, Mr. Annan said the country's military government has failed to meet even basic requirements that it outlined in its 2003 road map towards democracy.

The U.N. chief urged Burmese authorities to make the road map more inclusive and credible by, among other things, releasing political prisoners and resuming dialogue with the leaders of political and ethnic groups.

Mr. Annan also warned that continued constraints by authorities on the work of aid organizations could force those groups to interrupt their work in Burma.

Since the ouster of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt last year, official contacts between the United Nations and the Burmese military government have been significantly reduced.