Bush to ask for €58bn more for Afghan and Iraq wars

THE White House has told the US Congress to expect requests for $70 billion (€57.85bn) more for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $18bn (€14.9bn) more for hurricane relief, Senate Republican aides say.

President George W Bush’s budget for 2007 will reflect the totals for planning purposes, said the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the White House has not yet announced the requests. Another $2.3bn (€1.9bn) to combat avian flu is also expected.

The Iraq funding is in addition to $50bn (€41.3bn) approved in December and should be enough to conduct the war through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.