《每日電訊報》在頭版刊登了中國海軍在海南島三亞設立秘密核潛艇基地的衛星照片。

中國海軍訓練用潛艇：增強實力

文章說，中國秘密建造的這個基地將會威脅到亞洲國家，並且挑戰美國在該地區的地位。

該報表示，從他們獲得的衛星圖像顯示，該基地可以停泊多艘核動力彈道導彈潛艇、甚至航空母艦。

《獨立報》報道指出，隨著北京正籌備把奧運會火炬送上珠穆朗瑪峰，中國的高壓政策觸發了新一輪批評聲音。

文章說，尼泊爾方面禁止登山人士進入珠峰大本營，以防止支持西藏人士登上珠峰干擾火炬傳遞，當局的這種行為遭到了人權人士和登山愛好者的抗議。

Burma 'must allow aid workers in'

Rangoon has been without power and water, its streets full of debris

Burmese exiles are urging the country's military rulers to allow aid agencies to operate freely inside the country in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Nargis.

They say their expertise will be vital as Burma attempts to recover from the cyclone, which killed more than 350.

Five regions have been declared disaster zones by the government, including the main city, Rangoon.

Meanwhile, state media says despite the cyclone, a referendum on a new constitution will go ahead on 10 May.

"The referendum is only a few days away and the people are eagerly looking forward to voting," the government is quoted as saying in a statement carried by state media.

Burma's leaders say the referendum will pave the way for multi-party elections in 2010, but critics say the charter is aimed primarily at further entrenching military rule.

'Ill-prepared'

The United Nations has said it is still waiting for the government to approve the start of relief efforts in the wake of the cyclone.

The Burmese regime is normally distrustful of outside influences.

The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone Naing Aung, Forum for Democracy in Burma

The regional head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Terje Skavdal, told the BBC that his organisation was hoping to take relief supplies into Burma - with plastic sheeting for shelter, water purification tablets and cooking sets a priority.

He said Burma's deputy minister of social welfare had indicated that international assistance might be welcome.

"Hopefully that will mean that we in the next few days might be able to mobilise additional resources to support the victims of this situation."

Naing Aung, secretary general of the Thailand-based Forum for Democracy in Burma, said: "International expertise in dealing with natural disasters is urgently required.

"The military regime is ill-prepared to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone."

'Villages flattened'

Tropical Cyclone Nargis hit the country two days ago with winds of speeds reaching 190km/h (120 mph).

In Rangoon, roofs were blown off buildings and electricity supplies cut.

In pictures: Burma cyclone

Shari Villarosa, the leading US diplomat in the city, said the storm had caused devastation.

"The Burmese are saying they have never seen anything like this, ever," she told the Associated Press news agency.

Rescue workers have yet to reach some of the worst-hit areas of the country, including the low-lying Irrawaddy delta region, which was also hit by a storm surge.

"The villages there have reportedly been completely flattened," said Chris Kaye, the UN's acting humanitarian co-ordinator in Rangoon.

Initial efforts to assess the situation had been hampered because roads were blocked with storm debris and telephone lines were down, he added.

State-run television reported that at least 162 people had been killed on Haing-Gyi island, off the country's south-west coast. About 20,000 homes have been destroyed on the island, and 90,000 people made homeless.

Burma has been under military rule since 1962, and the government stifles most dissenting voices.

It has been widely criticised for human rights abuses and the suppression of opposition parties such as the National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest.

Last September, at least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the military suppressed anti-government protests led by Buddhist monks.