THE US was last night considering a request from the Lebanese Government to provide about $US280 million ($340 million) in military assistance to help put down an uprising by al-Qa'ida-inspired militants operating from a Palestinian refugee camp.
The US Congress was yesterday debating a supplementary budget, drawn up by the Bush administration, which would provide about $US220million for the Lebanese Armed Forces and another $US60million for security forces.
The assistance would represent a significant increase over previous years.
"We are considering a request for additional assistance coming from the Lebanese Government," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said yesterday.
He said $US40 million in equipment and training was sent in 2006 and about $US5 million is earmarked for the current year.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday said the Lebanese Government, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, was fighting against a very tough extremist foe.
Sultan Abul Aynayn, the head of Fatah in Lebanon, issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian organisations to come to the aid of the camp's residents, saying they were "totally destitute".
Lebanese officials have accused Fatah al-Islam of working for Syrian intelligence to stir up trouble. The group's Palestinian leader, Shaker al-Abssi, slipped in to Lebanon last year after serving three years in a Syrian jail.
White House press secretary Tony Snow appeared to support that accusation last night.
He said militants operating out of the refugee camp were trying to disrupt the nation's security and distract international attention from UN efforts to establish a special tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut.
US weighs Lebanon cash plea | Defence | The Australian
We got a nation that will help oust these people, I say support their efforts!
Have a good one!:s4:
