WASHINGTON, Dec 29: The debate about disaster relief given by rich nations after the Asian tsunami disaster added fuel to US-French rivalry on Wednesday with the head of the US government aid agency saying that France was not a big aid contributor.

"I'm not an expert in the French aid programme but they do not tend be dominant figures in aid," Andrew Natsios, administrator of the US Agency for International Aid, told Fox television.

"The British are, the European Union is, the Japanese are, we are, the Canadians are, and in this case Australia, even though it's a relatively small country, has been very generous."

Questioned about France's response to the Indian Ocean disaster, Mr Natsios Said: "The aid programme in France is not that big, one. And two, they tend to do loans and you don't make loans in an emergency."

The United States has given 35 million dollars to the relief effort and is sending military aircraft and ships to help in the disaster operation. The French government announced on Wednesday that it is contributing 15 million euros (20 million dollars) and is coordinating European Union aid to Sri Lanka. -AFP