President Obama who's enlisted the support of his two predecessors in the White House, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, said Americans stood united with the people of Haiti. He said the United States was launching one of its largest ever relief efforts. From Washington, here is Paul Adams.

Putting aside their past differences and presenting a united front, the three presidents all spoke of the immense challenge posed by the earthquake, and of their determination to work together to help Haiti, not just immediately, but over the long term. President Clinton already the UN special envoy for Haiti, called the administration's response so far, truly extraordinary. President Bush visiting the White House for the first time since leaving office, said terrible tragedies brought out the best in the American people.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already arrived in the stricken country on a US Coast Guard plane which was also carrying emergency food rations as well as other supplies.

World News from the BBC.

The former Prime Minister of Iraq Iyad Allawi has formally unveiled a new nonsectarian alliance that will contest March's parliamentary election with him as leader. From Baghdad, Jim Maura reports.

In addition to liberal secular and nationalist groups, the alliance calling itself the Iraqi Bloc, also includes a number of prominent Sunni leaders, among them, the current vice president, Tariq Hashimi. Standing in the front bow is the new bloc was announced was another well known Sunni leader, Snaha Motlac. It’s widely reported but not officially announced that he is among 499 would-be candidates disqualified by the accountability and justice commission. It’s an independent body charged with rooting out people associated with a former Barth’s system.