US President George Bush is reportedly “open to ideas” as he meets a panel studying the war on Iraq today.

AS Congress hurried toward approval of a $51.8 billion (€41.77bn) emergency hurricane aid package, US President George Bush yesterday mapped a plan to get a wide range of government benefits - from medical care to job training - to storm victims who have been scattered around the US.

As US congress hurried toward approval of a €41.8bn emergency hurricane aid package, US President Bush George today mapped a plan to get a wide range of government benefits – from medical care to job training – to storm victims who have scattered around the US.

Soldiers toting M-16s strengthened their grip on this swamped city as concerns grew about the risks posed by the toxic floodwaters and officials braced for what could be a staggering death toll by readying 25,000 body bags.

US Congress is considering an emergency aid package that would spend well over $1bn (€1.5bn) a day during the next month on housing, clothing and other recovery needs for Hurricane Katrina victims.