More than 1.3 million Cyprus pounds (US$2.6 million) have been raised in Cyprus since tsunami hit Southeast Asia last December, First Lady Fotini Papadopoulos declared on Friday.

As the honorary president of the Cyprus Welfare Council, Fotini told the press that 300,000 Cyprus pounds (US$600,000) were raised during Friday's daylong street collection for the relief of the tsunami victims.

She praised the Cypriot people for their support for the tsunami victims, saying "the people of Cyprus, in a few hours, in a single day, gave such a large amount of money showing the grandeur of their soul."

The distribution of the financial assistance to the affected areas will be done through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2005)