JAKARTA, Dec. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Thursday he had appealed for the United Nations to sponsor an international conference on global efforts to help victims in tsunami-hit countries.

    "In a phone conversation yesterday (Wednesday) with the UN secretary-general, I proposed the United Nations to sponsor an international conference on concerted efforts to help countries hit by these massive-scale earthquake and tsunami," Susilo told a press conference at the presidential palace here.

    "Indonesia is not the only country suffering from this major catastrophe. Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand and several other countries are also suffering," he said.

    Indonesia is the hardest hit by the Sunday's tidal waves that was sparked by an 8.7-magnitude quake off Sumatra island. More than 45,000 people, mostly residents in Aceh province on the northern tip of Sumatra, have been confirmed dead and many others in remote areas are still unaccounted for.

    The death toll across Asia has been put at above 80,000.

    He said UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan gave a positive response to his proposal, which was also conveyed to US President George W. Bush during a separate phone conversation.

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