Bush tells Turkey US is "ready to help"

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AFP) May 05, 2003
US President George W. Bush told Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer Monday that the United States was "ready to help" its ally in the wake of last week's deadly earthquake, an aide said.

"The primary purpose of the call was to extend his condolences to the president for the men, women and children who were injured and killed in the recent earthquake," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.

Bush "was particularly saddened by the children that were killed and injured in the earthquake, and to let him know that the United States stands ready to help," said McClellan.

The death toll in the temblor, which rocked eastern Turkey, hit early Thursday with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale, has risen to 176, many of them children, Turkish officials said Monday.

SPACE.WIRE