Burmese junta should be tried: Tory

The call came from shadow international development secretary Andrew Mitchell who said two million people in Burma were in danger because of the failure to develop a civil society in that country.

"We see a regime run by evil thieving gangsters who don't give a fig for their people, who are stealing aid, and who are deliberately blocking the international humanitarian relief which people of good will all around the world wish for Burma," he told the Scottish Tories' annual conference in Ayr. I say that such leaders should be carted off to the International Criminal Court at The Hague and face charges of crimes against humanity."

Mr Mitchell made the call in a speech which said a Tory Government would put "every possible effort" into conflict resolution. And he said an aid deal signed in 2005 between Scotland and one of Africa's most impoverished countries could be the model for similar agreements elsewhere in Britain.

The agreement sends Scottish know-how in areas like health and education and economic development to Malawi, with which Scotland has historic links. It was reached at the instigation of the then Labour First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell.

Mr Mitchell said a Tory Government at Westminster would give its "full support" to the Scotland-Malawi agreement.

"Development is about more than just money - its about skills and expertise," he said.

The "innovative and productive partnership" with Malawi had helped Scotland lead the way.

"There is a lot to learn from the success of this partnership."

Meanwhile, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander will travel to cyclone-devastated Burma to join international talks on how to get help to victims. Mr Alexander will first fly to Thai capital Bangkok to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, who said Burma's ruling junta had now agreed to grant access to all aid workers.