Britain yesterday announced it was sending more troops to Iraq, but other allies of the United States reacted cautiously to President George W. Bush's call for money to help fund his Iraq policy.

　　British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said he would deploy two more battalions - totaling some 1,200 combat troops - in addition to the 11,000 British servicemen already in Iraq. His department announced last week that it was reviewing its commitment in Iraq, and the ministry did not link yesterday's announcement to Bush's appeal.

　　In a written statement to Parliament, Hoon said the decision followed a review of troop levels conducted "in the light of the evolving security situation in Iraq and the increasing military tasks arising out of the reconstruction efforts in the south of the country."

　　Forty-nine British troops have died in the war, 11 since May 1.

　　"This response is not a knee-jerk response to recent attacks. It's part of a strategic plan," Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said.

　　But there was no immediate rush from other allies to answer Bush's appeal for extra funds.

　　Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, busy kicking off a campaign for re-election as head of the country's ruling party, had no immediate response to the speech.

　　"It has always been the position of the Japanese government that it is willing to assist as well as contribute to humanitarian efforts," Koizumi spokesman Yu Kameoka said.

　　Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, in a radio interview yesterday, applauded Bush for emphasizing that "the job is not finished in Iraq."

　　Last week, Prime Minister John Howard said his government wouldn't dispatch a peacekeeping force, even if the UN Security Council approves new measures to back Washington.

　　South Korea's Foreign Ministry said it had no immediate reaction to Bush's speech. However, a ministry official noted that South Korea has already dispatched 675 non-combat troops in April and May to help reconstruct Iraq.

　　Greece is waiting for a UN Security Council resolution before making any decision on sending troops, Foreign Ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said. India reiterated it would consider sending troops for stabilization operations in Iraq only if authorized by the United Nations.

　　New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark took a similar stance. Clark said her government would examine what it could do to provide additional troops for Iraq "if the UN were to step up its involvement."

　　President George W. Bush announced on Sunday night that he is asking Congress for US billion to fight terrorism and cautioning Americans that the struggle "will take time and require sacrifice."

　　Bush's money request - surpassing earlier unofficial estimates - would come on top of the US billion that Congress approved in April.