US President George W. Bush has donated US$10,000 from his personal funds to the relief effort of tsunami-hit nations, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Wednesday.

McClellan, White House press secretary, said Bush has written checks totaling US$10,000 to several organizations listed on a Web site set up to direct Americans to various charities collecting private contributions for tsunami relief. 

However, McClellan did not identify the charity organizations to which Bush contributed.

Bush has pledged that the United States will contribute an aid of US$350 million to help the tsunami-struck nations in South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Bush has been under criticism for responding slowly to the tsunami disaster that has killed over 150,000 people.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2005)