11/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - "We are all deeply shocked by the terrible earthquake which hit South Asia on Saturday morning", stated a press release by the UK Presidency of the Ecofin Council on Tuesday. On behalf of the finance ministers of the 25, Gordon Brown sent out a message "not only of sympathy, solidarity and support to the people and peoples of affected, but of a willingness (…) to provide additional assistance as required to alleviate the consequences of this humanitarian disaster and to assist in reconstruction". "We call on the World Bank, IMF, and UN agencies to do all they can to assist with aid and reconstruction", added Mr Brown (see other article and EUROPE 9045).