The US Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a White House request for US$87 billion in supplemental funding for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The bill was approved by a vote of 29 to 0 and it was sent to the full Senate for debate.

Of the total, US$66.7 billion was allotted to support US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pentagon's efforts fighting terrorism in other places. Of the amount, US$51 billion will fund US military operation in Iraq and US$11 billion will be for Afghanistan.

Despite the approval, Democrats and Republicans still have sharp differences over the remaining US$20.3 billion, which will be used for Iraqi reconstruction.
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2003)