ARAB-US RELATIONS - Jan 5 - US Gives Abbas $86m To 'Destroy Terror Network'.

The Bush administration will provide $86m to strengthen security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, expanding US involvement in his struggle with Hamas. Fighting between Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas, the ruling Islamist group, has surged since talks on forming a unity government collapsed and Abbas called for early parliamentary and presidential elections. The US money would be used to "assist the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) presidency in fulfilling PNA commitments under the road map [peace plan] to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and establish law and order in the West Bank and Gaza", according to a US government document obtained by Reuters. It said Lt Gen Keith Dayton, the US security co-ordinator between Israel and the Palestinians, would implement the programme "to strengthen and reform elements of the Palestinian security sector controlled by the PNA presidency". Hamas lawmaker Mushir Al Masri accused Washington of helping to mount a "coup" against the Hamas-led government. "We demand that President Abbas reject this American policy, which feeds the culture of divisions among the Palestinian people". Asked about the US money, senior Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said: I have no knowledge of this". The money, subject to congressional approval, would provide Abbas's presidential guard with training and non-lethal equipment, including vehicles and uniforms, people familiar with the plan said. Israeli officials said Washington had already helped to organise shipments of guns and ammunition to the guard from Egypt and Jordan, and that the latest was made last week. The money for the presidential guard was initially earmarked for US aid programmes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank but those programmes were "cancelled or suspended after Hamas took power", the US document said. Officials said the money would not be used to pay salaries of members of the guard. Abbas's presidential guard has about 3,700 members. With aid from the US and its allies, Abbas hopes to expand it to 4,700 members in 12 to 18 months to may be 10,000 members. Hamas said its own 'Executive Force' has nearly 6,000 members and would be expanded. It receives funds from Iran and other Islamist allies.