News In Brief

30-day Salvadorean aid scrapped by House panel

A 30-day emergency military aid package for El Salvador was scrapped by the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday, but Republicans said they would lead a bipartisan effort to restore the $61.7 million for El Salvador and to gain approval for $21 million for CIA-backed Nicaraguan rebels.

The action effectively postponed congressional action on Salvadorean military aid until after Sunday's presidential elections in El Salvador.

On the floor, the House passed by a 416-to-0 vote a resolution expressing support for efforts of the Contadora nations - Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela - to forge a regional peace settlement in Central America.