Bush directs emergency food aid to Sudan

WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said today he had directed emergency food stockpiles be shipped to Sudan to help ease a humanitarian crisis and called on the US Congress to approve $US225 ($NZ354.38) million in food aid.

Bush said he had directed five US ships be loaded with food and proceed to Sudan and had ordered the emergency purchase of another 40,000 metric tons of food for rapid shipment.

He said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will address the UN Security Council on Tuesday to request a resolution to accelerate deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur.

- REUTERS