Official promises US credit crunch aid

A senior US official said Washington plans to help Central America and the Caribbean weather the global economic crisis.



Assistant Secretary of State, Thomas Shannon, said Central American and Caribbean countries are vulnerable because many depend on money sent home by migrants in the US.



He said the fact that development loans are becoming harder to get is another problem.



Mr Shannon said the Obama administration will try to ensure that the countries have access to the credit they need to survive the crisis and protect social programmes.



He said the administration will raise the issue at next month\'s G-20 summit in London and at the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad.