US: US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell flew in to the Thai resort of Phuket yesterday on a visit to Asian regions stricken by last month's tsunamis, to try and boost Washington's image after it was accused of responding too slowly to the disaster.
However, there would be no more money beyond the $350 million (€258 million) the US has already pledged, Mr Powell said.
"At the moment, I don't see a need for any additional financial assistance," he told reporters outside the city hall in Phuket.
Thailand has been designated the hub for relief efforts to help countries devastated by the St Stephen's Day earthquake and resulting tsunamis that have killed nearly 150,000 in south Asia.
Mr Powell had been asked if the US would announce an increase in the amount it would give to relief efforts at an international conference to be held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.
Embassies from countries affected by the disaster have set up desks at the city hall in Phuket to field queries about missing nationals and to help relatives flying in to find their missing loved ones.
The US delegation moved speedily through the grounds of the city hall, passing by a hoarding containing hundreds of photographs and details of the missing.
Mr Powell said his visit was intended to show the US's strong level of commitment to helping the victims.
He was due to travel on to Indonesia and Sri Lanka, accompanied by Florida Governor Jeb Bush, brother of President Bush.
In sending his brother, President Bush is keen to deflect criticism that Washington's response to the disaster has been too slow and somewhat tight-fisted.
President Bush declined to speak publicly about the disaster for three days.
Mr Jeb Bush is not very well known outside the US and at one point an Australian aid worker asked who he was. When Mr Bush told him his name, the official asked if he was any relation to George Bush.
"He is, in fact, my brother," said Mr Bush. "Good for you," came the reply,
Washington has come under fire for its initial aid offering of $15 million, which it subsequently raised to $35 million and then to $350 million as the tragedy's scale became clear and amid a public outcry.
So far governments and donors have pledged nearly €2 billion to help the tsunami-stricken areas.
Mr Powell initially left the crisis centre at the city hall in Phuket after meeting the American contingent, but then made a quick turnaround to shake hands with relief workers from other countries.
He met Thai Prime Minister Mr Thaksin Shinawatra before touring the island.
President Bush and two former US presidents, George Bush and Bill Clinton, have issued an appeal in Washington for Americans to give money to help with disaster relief.
So far, the US has deployed the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln off the Indonesian coast, and military helicopters are ferrying food and water to victims.
Mr Powell is to go to Aceh in Indonesia today before attending the Jakarta conference. He will then go to Sri Lanka, where the death toll stands above 30,000.
So far, 15 US citizens have been confirmed dead, while thousands remain unaccounted for.