World pledges aid to quake-hit Chile

PARIS (AFP) - The United States, Europe and China vowed to come to Chiles aid as relief workers rushed to the western hemispheres second enormous earthquake in seven weeks.
But the Latin American country, reeling from the deaths of at least 400 people and a trail of destruction caused by Saturdays 8.8-magnitude quake, appealed for foreign donors to wait until the scale of the task is clear.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it had unlocked $279,000 from its emergency funds to help the relief efforts in Chile.
UN chief Ban Ki-moons office said he was very closely monitoring developments including the risk of Pacific Basin tsunamis.
US President Barack Obama pledged to meet any request for help from Chile, while the European Union offered three million euros ($4m) in immediate aid and Australia and South Korea also pledged assistance.
Chinese President Hu Jintao sent a message of support to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and offered aid. Hu expressed sincere condolences to the government and people of Chile and our deepest sympathies to the victims, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
The United States stands ready to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts, and we have resources that are positioned to deploy should the Chilean government ask for our help, Obama said in a televised address.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his deep emotion while British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: The people of Chile are in agony today but Britain stands ready to help. We will do whatever we can.
Spain, which holds the EUs rotating presidency, offered to help coordinate relief efforts once the damage and requirements are assessed.