Cyclone-hit Myanmar not requested aid - World Bank

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - Myanmar has not asked for financial assistance to deal with the damage from Cyclone Nargis that has left nearly 134,000 people dead or missing, the World Bank said on Tuesday.

Earlier, a senior World Bank official said in Singapore the development lender could not authorize financial assistance to Myanmar because its government was in arrears to the bank.

"Right now, the issue is getting access to the country for the international partners who stand ready to assist the people devastated by the cyclone," the bank said in a statement.

"In the weeks and months ahead, the focus will shift from emergency relief to reconstruction. We expect to be engaged in that phase," it added. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)