$350 Million Tsunami Aid Bush Pledges

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush, under pressure over the pace and size of American aid to Asian tsunami victims, dramatically raised U.S. assistance to the region on Friday to $350 million from $35 million.

The White House suggested the abrupt, tenfold increase could be extended after a delegation headed by Secretary of State Colin Powell tours devastated areas next week and reports back to the president on the relief needs of an estimated 5 million tsunami survivors.