WASHINGTON, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Tuesday said up to 80,000 refugees from around the world would be welcome in the United States in fiscal year 2009, which begins October 1.

In a memorandum to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Bush allocated the numbers as follows:

Europe and Central Asia 2,500

Latin America/Caribbean 4,500

Near East/South Asia 37,000

An additional 5,000 spots can be allocated to regional levels as needed.