US President George W. Bush has asked Congress for an additional $25 billion to fund military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In doing so, he is breaking a pledge not to seek more money before the November election. The White House had long insisted it would not need extra money until next year, but the surge in violence in Iraq and pressure from fellow Republicans forced Mr Bush to reverse course.
If approved by Congress as expected, the proposed $25 billion "contingency reserve fund" would become available to the Pentagon from October 1st, the beginning of the 2005 fiscal year.
"Recent developments on the ground and increased demands on our troops indicate the need to plan for contingencies. We must make sure there is no disruption in funding and resources for our troops," Mr Bush said in a statement.
The new money would come on top of $160 billion in Mr Bush's two previous spending bills for Iraq and Afghanistan, and officials said far more money would be needed next year.
Officials said the $25 billion should take the Pentagon through to January or February of next year, when the White House is expected to request another $50 billion or more for the troops. A senior administration official said the size of the next supplemental would depend on how much of the $25 billion reserve fund is spent.
Critics accused the White House of hiding the true cost of the war by not asking for money it knew would be necessary. "The Bush administration essentially said 'read my lips - no extra money for Iraq,"' said New Jersey Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg. "Now we see that pledge was false."