Aid for the reconstruction of Iraq will not come at the expense of help for Africa, Clare Short has pledged.

The international development secretary gave MPs an "absolute undertaking" not to divert cash from funds for other poor countries.

Amid on-going talks over the reconstruction of post-Saddam Iraq, the US is planning to offer support, while the Ministry of Defence has received extra cash to provide aid relief.

However, many experts predict that the vast wealth contained in Iraq's oil reserves will be used to fund much of the reconstruction bill.

But with the Middle East currently the focus of international attention, MPs warned against ignoring the continuing plight of Africa.

Conservative MP Laurence Robertson pointed to the dire situation in Ethiopia.

He warned that with the current focus on Iraq it was important to "ensure that Ethiopia receives all the food aid which it has been promised as quickly as possible".

Short said that 15 million people were being hit by a "very serious" drought in the region.

"I have made an absolute undertaking. [that] we are going to stand by the people of Iraq but not at the cost of people in need in poorer parts of the world.

"We will not withdraw any support from crises in Africa or our programmes for poor people anywhere. Our support for Iraq has got to be additional," she told the Commons.

She said that poorer countries needed changes in trade rules to allow them to develop their exports, while aid would then be focussed on supporting diversification.

It was important not to "paralyse them in declining sectors", she added.

Labour MP Chris Mullin warned that United Nations appeals for help for Africa had been "massively undersubscribed".

"Is there not a danger that events in Iraq will overshadow the very real tragedies in Africa, and what can we do to try and avoid that?" he asked.

Short said UN appeals had not been so badly ignored.

"I've given an absolute assurance that the UK won't turn away and none of our funding will be removed," the development secretary added.

Britain would "work to make sure that the international community doesn't do that either".