In a statement, Birmingham City Council said its Safeguarding Children Board, which considers every child death, would convene to discuss the death of Khyra Ishaq.

But the authority was branded "heartless" after it failed to agree to demands to launch an inquiry into the matter.

Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said the council's two-paragraph statement did not go far enough and expressed anger that the authority had not done more to reassure the local community.

Speaking after the council confirmed Khyra's five siblings were now in foster care, Mr Mahmood said of the statement: "It's not sufficient to alleviate some of the apprehension within the community at the moment.

"Basically, it's a way of shutting down any further discussion on this. I find it absolutely amazing that they are taking a head-in-the-sand approach."

Describing the meeting as a technicality, the Birmingham Perry Barr MP added: "A huge tragedy has taken place. All of us need to get together and resolve this - it's not about them and us. Everybody has been touched by this and yet the authority seems totally heartless."

Mr Mahmood said some council officers had been instructed not to talk to him about the death of Khyra, who died at Birmingham's Children's Hospital after paramedics were called to her home in Handsworth, Birmingham, early on Saturday.

The MP went on: "Various councillors and officers have been told not to speak - I am appalled at this sort of diktat. I want an inquiry into what has happened."

Police are still awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination on Khyra's body, but sources have said the youngster is believed to have died of starvation.