Bush Sr, Clinton to head tsunami relief fund

The two men will lead an effort "to encourage the American people and American businesses to support, through private contributions, non-governmental and international organizations" relief and reconstruction to areas devastated by the tsunami, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

The President was announcing the effort at the White House with the two former presidents at his side.

Afterward, Bush was paying brief visits to the embassies of the four nations - Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand - hit hardest by the disaster. Bush was to sign condolence books at each embassy, McClellan said.