Burma's ruling junta was last night locked in an increasingly tense stand-off with the international community after flatly refusing to allow foreign aid workers into the country to tackle the impact of the recent cyclone disaster. Amid clear indications that between 60,000 and 100,000 people are now dead or missing in the region, the Burmese junta said it was prepared to receive offers of aid from foreign sources, including the US. However, to the dismay of the United Nations and international aid agencies, the Burmese regime insisted it would control the distribution of aid to the 1.5m people who are now believed have been affected by the disaster. The diplomatic wrangling became so fierce that at one point yesterday the UN announced it was suspending aid flights to the country, claiming the supplies were being appropriated by the junta. The UN later relented. Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, led international calls for Burma to let foreign aid workers into the country amid fears that failure to act quickly will mean disease will spread through the region. The US said it was pleased that Burma had given the green light for a US military C-130 cargo aircraft to fly to the country next Monday with aid. However, the UN believes the Burmese regime lacks the logistical ability to the aid. Mr Ban said he had been unable to speak to the Burmese leadership despite repeated efforts to do so. However, there was no sign that the Burmese regime would accept the demands being made on them. "Myanmar is not in a position to receive rescue and information teams from foreign countries at the moment," declared a state-run newspaper. In what appeared to be an attempt to get the regime to stop hindering the relief effort, the UN yesterday launched a $187m programme of emergency food and relief. Some western governments are considering whether they can carry out humanitarian operations in the country without the consent of the Burmese regime.