EU parliament head urges Myanmar to postpone vote

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The president of the European Parliament urged Myanmar's military junta on Wednesday to further postpone a controversial constitutional referendum after a cyclone killed more than 22,500 people.

Hans-Gert Poettering also called on the Myanmar military to ease access for international humanitarian aid groups.

"The military junta hasn't managed as far as we can see to come to grips with the situation. There were no preventative measures in place, nor were the population given support in good time," Poettering said in a statement to parliament.

Myanmar's state TV said the May 10 referendum -- part of the army's much-criticized "roadmap to democracy," -- would be postponed to May 24 in the worst-hit areas of Yangon and the delta but would proceed as planned in the rest of the Southeast Asian nation.

Poettering said Myanmar's announcement was welcome, but added:

"We need this postponement to be extended to the whole country so that people can concentrate on emergency aid. Rapid response is needed -- the government needs to demonstrate that it is looking after its own people."

He noted that the authorities had said they would welcome international support.

"We should see that as a positive gesture and we very much hope that the government will make sure that it facilitates access of humanitarian bodies," he said.

Governments and aid agencies around the world have shown eagerness to help Myanmar cope with the disaster but experts say the military must overcome its distrust of the outside world and open up to a full-scale international relief operation.