UN Secretary-General prays at Myanmar's holiest shrine

Bangkok, May 22 (UNI) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Yangon this morning to facilitate international relief efforts for 2.4 million victims of the May 3 Cyclone Nargis.

Mr Ban, who was received at the airport by Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win, signed a book of condolences at the Myanmar Foreign Ministry and then visited Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist shrine in the country.

The top UN official made offerings to the Buddha statue in the temple and gave a personal monetary donation to the temple in support of the cyclone victims, a UN release said.

The Secretary-General is expected to meet Myanmar's Prime Minister General Thein Sein later today.

UNI XC SYU KN1048