NATO offers help to hurricane-hit U.S

The hurricane killed hundreds and possibly thousands and left large numbers of people homeless when it stormed through the Gulf of Mexico earlier this week in what was seen as one of the worst natural disasters to hit the United States.

"Where NATO can, NATO helps," NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told reporters in Bulgaria, where he is on an official visit.

"Whenever and wherever our major partner, important friend the United States asks assistance ... NATO stands ready to answer those calls, because NATO is based on solidarity."

He did not give details on how the 26-nation alliance could help.

A NATO official said the alliance was not offering military help such as helicopters, but was ready to act as a clearing house for offers of humanitarian aid -- such as water purification devices -- from individual NATO allies.

The official told Reuters by telephone that NATO had acted as a clearing house for such aid during the floods in Romania and Bulgaria this summer. But he specified that Washington would have to ask for NATO's involvement first.

The United Nations along with more than 20 countries, ranging from allies Germany and Japan to poor Honduras, have offered help to Washington.

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved President George W. Bush's request for $10.5 billion in emergency disaster relief for the victims of the hurricane.