Bush wins $87.5bn aid for Iraq

The US Congress today approved a $87.5billion military and aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan - 24 hours after US forces suffered their biggest single loss in a day, when a Chinook helicopter was shot down killing 16 soldiers.

The final Senate vote was a muchneeded boost for President George Bush, whose Iraq strategy is increasingly being questioned although he insists the Chinook incident will not deter the US.

The aid package is the most ambitious post-war effort since the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after the Second World War and follows withdrawal of a Senate bid to give half the amount as loans.

Some $64.7billion has been earmarked for US military operations, while $21.2billion is for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the two countries. It will go to improve infrastructure, train officials and provide rewards for the capture of Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

Baghdad was peppered by mortar bombs overnight and a judge working to catch Saddam henchmen was murdered.