Yangon - The portrait of a painter with a rope around his neck and on a red background was too much for the government censors in Myanmar.

"Absolutely not!" they told the artist in the country's main port city of Yangon, when he complied with the law and sought official permission to exhibit the painting at an art show.

And there the canvas still stands, without a frame, without admirers, without a buyer.

Yangon - The United Nations' flash appeal for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis remains 50 per cent unfunded, five months after the disaster, the group managing the relief effort disclosed Tuesday.

"Total contribution now stands at 240 million dollars out of the 482 million required. Agriculture and early recovery continue to be the least-funded sectors," a statement issued by the Tripartite Core Group said.

The group, which has handled relief efforts for Cyclone Nargis victims since June, comprises representatives from the Myanmar government, UN agencies and the Association of South-East Asian Nations.

Yangon - Myanmar's military government arrested at least three National League for Democracy (NLD) supporters Saturday before the opposition party celebrated its 20-year anniversary, witnesses said.

Police detained two men and one women near the NLD headquarters before the anniversary ceremony to mark the establishment of the party in 1988.

Yangon (Myanmar), Sept. 26: The ruling military junta in Myanmar still remains in firm control of the country and its affairs even a year after it began a deadly crackdown on thousands of Buddhist monks protesting sharp rises in the price of food and fuel.

Now the country’s ruling generals are steeling themselves for a reprise.

Yangon - A bomb blast in central Yangon Thu

Yangon - Myanmar's military government released the country's longest-serving political prisoner Tuesday afternoon as part of a broad amnesty in which more than
9,000 prisoners were freed.

U Win Tin, 79, had served nearly 20 years in prison, and was the country's longest-serving political prisoner before his release, he said after his release.

While still wearing prison clothing, he told a handful of journalists that the country's military rule must end, but he has no interest in taking part in a scheduled 2010 general election.

U Win Tin was one of 9,002 prisoners released in a general amnesty on Tuesday.