'Zero tolerance' for looting

2005-09-01 16:28

Washington - United States President George W Bush on Thursday vowed "zero tolerance" for looters and other profiteers from the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and said he would send in more troops if necessary.

In an unexpected interview on ABC television, Bush also pledged maximum assistance for stricken areas of the US Gulf Coast, where hundreds were feared dead, and said Washington had not asked for any help from abroad.

The president made his remarks a day after cutting short his holiday and returning here to direct recovery efforts shadowed by rising violence, looting and carjackings in the city of New Orleans.

"I think there ought to be zero tolerance of people breaking law during an emergency such as this, whether it be looting, price gouging at the gasoline pump or taking advantage of charitable giving, insurance fraud," Bush said.

"I made that clear to our attorney general," he said. "It is very important for the citizens in all affected areas to take personal responsibility and assume a civic sense of responsibility so the situation doesn't get out of hand, so people don't exploit the vulnerable."

Troops on guard

Bush said some 22 000 national guard troops were on site or en route to ravaged areas of the southern states of Louisiana and Mississippi. "If they need more guard, there will be more guard," he said.

"Plus, we have regular military on the ground, as well, preparing to find out what we need to be able to continue to search and rescue and then deliver food, medicine and water to the people."

Countries such as France, Germany, Russia and even US critic Venezuela have volunteered assistance, but Bush said: "I'm not expecting much from foreign nations because we haven't asked for it."

"I do expect a lot of sympathy, and perhaps some will send cash dollars. But this country is going to rise up and take care of it.

"We love help, but we are going to take care of our own business, as well."

Bush said he had no idea of the number of deaths in the hurricane that ravaged the Gulf Coast on Monday, but predicted "it is going to be a lot".

He said disease was also shaping up as a major threat to survivors.

- AFP