U.S. Exhausts Seized Iraqi Assets, May Seek More Aid

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030826/pl_nm/iraq_usa_funding_dc&cid=615&ncid=1473

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U.S. Exhausts Seized Iraqi Assets, May Seek More Aid
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By Adam Entous

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. authorities in Iraq have all but exhausted nearly $1 billion in seized assets used to pay Iraqi civil servants, and some administration and congressional officials said on Tuesday that extra money may be needed sooner than expected.

One key U.S. lawmaker, after high-level meetings in Baghdad on the funding issue, said other ways would be found to pay Iraqi worker salaries and pensions, but a senior congressional aide called the situation "a mess."

Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, was expected to discuss the issue during a series of meetings in Washington including one on Tuesday with U.S. national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, officials said.

The White House has promised to give occupation authorities the resources they need to stabilize the country, but critics say President Bush has yet to deliver and accused him of underestimating postwar costs.

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