Bush Offers to Share Spy Satellite Data As Europe Stands By With Aid

George Bush yesterday offered to help China deal with the aftermath of its earthquake, including sharing detailed images of the devastation taken by American spy satellites.

In a White House statement, Bush said: "I am particularly saddened by the number of students and children affected by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to help in any way possible."

European governments, including Britain, as well as the major international aid agencies, are also ready to offer assistance, in spite of the pressures created by already trying to help with the aftermath of the Burmese cyclone.

Last night David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said the earthquake was a "tragic shock to a region already trying to handle the devastation in Burma".

But in contrast to criticism leveled at the regime in Rangoon for its intransigent response to its disaster, he added: "The Chinese government are to be commended for their quick and efficient response. The UK stands ready to assist."

Beijing has not made any request for assistance from other governments or aid organizations. China unlike Burma and other countries in the region, has the resources, manpower and sophisticated disaster response teams capable of handling the emergency on its own.

A UN security council spokesman said: "There has been no sign of any request [from Beijing] yet."

A spokeswoman for the Department for International Development (Dfid) said that it was monitoring the disaster but believed China had the capability to deal with it.

Matthew Cochrane, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, said a joint Chinese Red Cross and International Federation of the Red Cross team had flown from Beijing to the stricken area, but it had not yet reported back, partly because it had arrived during the night.