Wednesday, December 29 2004 15:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The United States has pledged another $20 million in aid for victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster, more than doubling its contribution while sharply rebuffing a suggestion it was being "stingy".

The new assistance brought the total US commitment to $35 million, which officials called an initial offering to help in the catastrophe that has claimed 55,000 lives and would likely require billions of Dollars in aid.

The additional contribution was announced after Andrew Natsios, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), met with Secretary of State Colin Powell and his deputy Richard Armitage, on the crisis.

"They've identified an additional 20 million (Dollars) to add to the 15 million we've already pledged," said deputy State Department spokesman Adam Ereli.

Powell earlier bristled at comments by UN disaster relief coordinator Jan Egeland, who spoke of "stingy" rich nations reluctant to commit taxpayer Dollars to relief. Egeland later said his remarks were misinterpreted.

"The United States is not stingy," Powell told CNN during a round of US television interviews. He told ABC, "We will do more. I wish that comment hadn't been made."

Washington says it has given more aid in the last four years than any other nation or combination of nations in the world. "We're busting our butts to help and comments like that don't reflect what we're doing," said one senior official, who asked not to be named.