ARAB-US RELATIONS - April 3 - Congress Approves $80 Bn Iraq War Funds.

The House of Representatives approves nearly $80 bn to finance the war in Iraq, reward key allies, bolster anti-terrorism efforts and help struggling airlines. (The move comes after the Senate unanimously approved the big emergency spending package that provides some $60 bn to fight the war, after Republicans deflected most efforts by Democrats to add billions more to tighten domestic protections against terrorism. Lawmakers intend to work out differences between the measures next week, and send a final bill to Pres. Bush by April 11). In a key amendment, the House passes a measure the White House lobbied against to bar money in the bill from going to companies in France, Germany, Russia or Syria to rebuild Iraq. On another vote, it backs Pres. Bush by supporting $1 bn for aid to Turkey which Washington is trying to coax into more co-operation in the war with Iraq.