"The combination of the cyclone and the referendum within a few days of each other makes an angry population angrier and vulnerable and makes the political situation more volatile" than it has been since last year's massive pro-democracy demonstrations, said Monique Skidmore, a Myanmar expert at Australian National University.

At least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the military cracked down on peaceful protests in September led by Buddhist monks and democracy advocates.

OMG 15,000 people - incredibly sad news to hear

The government had apparently taken few efforts to prepare for the storm. Weather warnings broadcast on television would have been useless for the worst-hit rural areas where electricity is spotty and television is rare.

Yes we know, and the propaganda is using the cataclysm against Burma government which is targeted for 'regime change' by the Bush administration, with full support of UN. The pressure for change has to do with political ambitions not compassion for the people in purity.

Yet 1,000,000 Iraqis have been killed as a consequence of the invasion of Iraq, and we see little evidence of compassion for them, even under the new government.

So sad.

Sad, indeed!