Maldives seek more tsunami relief

BRUSSELS, Thursday (AFP) - The Maldives wants the EU to give more money to help rebuild after the December tsunami, its ambassador to the bloc said while defending a decision to deny entry to the head of a British charity.

Hassan Sobir, a former tourism minister of the Indian Ocean atoll nation, underlined the damage done to his country by the tidal wave, in particular on its hugely important tourism industry.

He welcomed a package of aid pledged by the European Union's executive commission this week, saying total EU aid so far is 17 million US dollars - second only to Japan which has given 20 million. But he said it was not enough.

The Maldives have assessed reconstruction needs at 470 million dollars, but have only received 80 million so far. "There is a huge shortfall," he told AFP, lamenting that the tourism industry - which generates 80 percent of GDP - had slumped by 50 percent.