US Congress approves $80 bn for war in Iraq

The US House approved nearly $80 bn to finance the war in Iraq and bolster anti-terrorism efforts.

The US house of representatives on Thursday approved nearly $80 billion to finance the war in Iraq, reward key allies, bolster anti-terrorism efforts and help struggling airlines, following a unanimous Senate vote.

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In a key amendments, the House passed 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 backed President George W Bush by supporting $1 billion for aid to Turkey which Washington is trying to coax into more cooperation in the war with neighbouring Iraq.