News In Brief

Aid to Central America approved by Senate

The Senate approved an urgent spending bill Thursday night containing $61.7 million in military aid for El Salvador and $21 million in covert aid for anti-Nicaraguan rebels.

The 76-to-19 vote in the Republican-controlled Senate was a victory for President Reagan and a defeat for liberal Democrats who failed repeatedly to block or place conditions on the funding. The legislation now goes to a conference where differences between Senate and House of Representatives versions of the bill are worked out.