Tropical Cyclone Nargis killed least 351 people in Myanmar, including 162 who lived on Haing Gyi island off the country's southwest coast, the AP reported.
THE BACKDROP: Nargis hit at a delicate time for Myanmar's junta, less than a week ahead of a crucial referendum on a new constitution.
THE COUNTRY: Myanmar, also known as Burma, has been under military rule since 1962. Its government has been widely criticized for human rights abuses and suppression of pro-democracy parties.