Bush asks for $770m more global food aid

Washington: US President George W. Bush has urged Congress to approve $770 million in global food aid, saying "more needs to be done" about rising food prices.

The sum is in addition to $200 million emergency food aid already announced, Bush said.

Food riots have erupted this year in Egypt, Haiti, Yemen, and Bangladesh where food prices have gone up more than 40 per cent.

"In some of the world's poorest nations, rising prices can mean the difference between getting a daily meal and going without food," Bush said.

Africa will get majority of the assistance, White House officials said.