Myanmar weather officials issued a cyclone warning Friday, urging residents in the western coastal region to stay away from the sea for two days until the storm passed.
The military-run government's meteorological department issued the advice on its website following updates from the United Nations' weather monitoring centre.
"All vessels... in Myanmar waters along the Rakhine coast are advised to take precautionary measures by navigating away from the area exposed to the threat from rough seas and strong winds until 18 April 2009," it said.
The UN World Meteorological Organisation said that Cyclone Bijli was currently located over the Bay of Bengal "and is likely to intensify further."
"The current forecast indicates that the tropical depression will seriously affect the coasts of India, Bangladesh and northern Myanmar," it warned.
A Myanmar radio report said tidal surges six to eight feet (about two metres) high were expected and put the threat from the cyclone at "orange," which is medium-level.
"When the cyclone crosses, the surface wind speed could reach 60 to 75 miles per hour and the sea will be rough," the radio announcer said.
Myanmar was hit by a severe cyclone one year ago that left an estimated 138,000 people dead or missing and affected some 2.4 million people, mostly in the southwest delta region.
But despite a huge international relief push, the secretive ruling junta stalled on issuing visas to foreign aid workers and blocked some humanitarian supplies from entering the country, drawing worldwide condemnation.
*************Philippines urges Myanmar to free Suu Kyi******************************
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo made the appeal in a meeting last week with Myanmar Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein on the sidelines of an aborted Asian summit in Thailand, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
Arroyo urged Myanmar to release Suu Kyi in May, when the extension of her house arrest expires, saying it would create "tremendous goodwill for Myanmar from the international community," the department said in a statement.
Arroyo, who has survived four coup attempts and three impeachment bids, suggested that the junta consider following her approach of reaching out to the opposition "in the spirit of reconciliation and national unity," it said.
"As a neighbor of Myanmar, the Philippines has a deep sense of friendship with the people of Myanmar. We only have your country and your people's welfare at heart. This is the single, most concrete piece of advice and experience I can share with you," the statement quoted Arroyo as saying.
It said Thein Sein expressed appreciation for Arroyo's suggestions and said his government would take them into account.
He said his government is committed to its program of democratization and reconciliation, citing the adoption of a new constitution last year as a "critical first step." The government also is preparing for general elections next year, he added.
The constitution, drafted under the junta's influence without input from the pro-democracy movement, was passed by a national referendum last May, but the opposition charges that the vote was unfair.
Myanmar has been under military rule since 1962. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing pro-democracy demonstrations and killing as many as 3,000 people.
It called elections in 1990 but refused to honor the results when Suu Kyi's party won overwhelmingly. Suu Kyi has spent 13 of the last 19 years under house arrest.
Last week's Asian summit in Thailand was canceled when anti-government demonstrators stormed the seaside venue.
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