Emergency battle fund approved

Washington: Congress has authorised an additional $70 billion (Dh257 billion) in emergency funds to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year.

This included nearly $24 billion (Dh88 billion) for the Army and Marine Corps to repair and replace worn-out equipment.

The new funding provides more than $2 billion for the military's efforts to defeat the roadside bombs, or "improvised explosive devices", that are the leading cause of deaths among US troops in Iraq.

Senate and House conferees also agreed on $463 billion in overall defence spending for fiscal 2007, a 3.6 per cent increase over 2006. To ease the strain on US ground forces, the conference report called for an increase of 30,000 soldiers and 5,000 Marines in 2007, with additional increases authorised through 2009.

The funding brings to $507 billion the total amount authorised by Congress for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as for extra security for military bases and embassies, since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.