PM GIVES DETAILS OF AID TO S.E. ASIA

Sr Zapatero took advantage of the press conference - which was also attended by Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Defence Minister José Bono - to reveal details of the country's aid to South East Asia. The details had been worked out that morning by the prime minister and the two ministers. Sr Zapatero said his government had decided to send 650 soldiers, airmen and sailors whose numbers included health workers and engineers, who will leave on Monday for Indonesia in two Casa-235 and three Hercules planes. The aircraft would also carry 18 tons of pharmaceutical products, food, bottled water and a plant capable of producing 8,000 litres of drinkable water per hour. He said the Hercules would be used for liaison missions with Spain while the Casa-235s would stay in the area to help with the movement of supplies and people. He said the ship Castilla would also set out on the 22-day long voyage to Indonesia on the same day, carrying a field hospital and 80 medical staff, two helicopters and other support material. Sr Zapatero said the Spanish humanitarian mission would stay in Indonesia for at least two months at a cost of 6.5 million euros. The prime minister pointed out that this contribution put Spain third on the list as regards volume of aid, after the UK and France. He said Spain's monetary contribution had now risen to 56 millions since the regional governments had made their respective contributions.