Burma's military government says it will accept foreign aid for the victims of last week's deadly cyclone, but it does not want foreign aid workers to enter the country at this time.

Families take refuge in a school building after losing their homes to Cyclone Nargis, Hlaing Thayar Township, Rangoon, 08 May 2008

A foreign ministry statement issued Friday says Burma would use its own nationals to distribute relief supplies. It noted that authorities turned back a flight carrying a search and rescue team and media who did not receive permission to enter the country.

The military government has come under intense international pressure to allow foreign aid teams to enter the country and help the more than one million people displaced by Cyclone Nargis. John Holmes, the U.N. humanitarian chief, says the situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is seeking direct talks with Burma's top general to persuade him to allow greater access to the victims.

The official death toll from the cyclone stands at about 23,000, with 42,000 still missing.

Mr. Ban has also urged the Burmese government to postpone Saturday's constitutional referendum in order to focus resources on cyclone recovery efforts.

Four U.N. supply planes arrived in Rangoon Thursday, but the country's military government is still limiting aid distribution to survivors of the cyclone.

U.S. and other officials warn the death toll from the cyclone could reach 100-thousand people. The U.N. says water polluted by bloating corpses and other contaminants has caused outbreaks of diarrhea, malaria, respiratory infections and other diseases.

The U.S. Navy and military say they can deliver supplies by ship and air, but Burma has not approved the help.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad says the United States is outraged by Burmese leaders' delays in accepting foreign assistance.