Private donations to help victims of the Asian tsunami are soaring in Europe, rivaling and in some cases exceeding government contributions.

In Sweden, a series of telethons Saturday pushed private donations above the $60-million mark. Relief agencies called it a record for the nation, which may have lost more citizens in the disaster than any other in Europe.

The British public had contributed about $115 million by Saturday - nearly $20 million more than its government.

Private donations in Germany were running above $40 million - more than the German government has pledged so far. An aid official told the French news agency, AFP, it was one of the largest donations of its type in Germany.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.