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US Congress approves Abbas funds | US Congress approves Abbas funds |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US Congress has authorised $60m (£30.4m) in funds to improve the state of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security staff. | The US Congress has authorised $60m (£30.4m) in funds to improve the state of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's security staff. |
"We are good to go ... we have addressed Congress's concerns," a senior State Department official was quoted by news agency Reuters. | "We are good to go ... we have addressed Congress's concerns," a senior State Department official was quoted by news agency Reuters. |
The funds could be spent on Abbas's presidential guard, security at border crossings and equipment. | The funds could be spent on Abbas's presidential guard, security at border crossings and equipment. |
Several lawmakers had held up the request from the Bush administration. | Several lawmakers had held up the request from the Bush administration. |
Israeli 'understanding' | |
The State Department was reportedly notified by Congress that the funds had been cleared on Monday. | |
"This has also been done with Israeli agreement and understanding," the State Department official was quoted by Reuters as saying. | |
The sum reportedly includes $14.5m for "basic and advanced training," $23m for non-lethal equipment, $2.9m for upgrade facilities and $3m to provide "capacity building and technical assistance" for the office of Abbas's national security advisor. | |
Last month, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a congressional committee $36m (£18m; 27m euros) would be cut from a proposed $86m package for Mr Abbas' National Security Forces. | Last month, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a congressional committee $36m (£18m; 27m euros) would be cut from a proposed $86m package for Mr Abbas' National Security Forces. |
The revised plan, she said, would request less money "precisely because some of the money that I would have requested I did not think I could fully account for". | The revised plan, she said, would request less money "precisely because some of the money that I would have requested I did not think I could fully account for". |
Correspondents said the move was a sign of America's nervousness at the power-sharing deal between Hamas and the more moderate Fatah movement. | Correspondents said the move was a sign of America's nervousness at the power-sharing deal between Hamas and the more moderate Fatah movement. |
The US has said it will boycott members of the Palestinian government who belong to Hamas, which it regards as a terrorist group. | The US has said it will boycott members of the Palestinian government who belong to Hamas, which it regards as a terrorist group. |