US aids Palestinian Authority ahead of election

WASHINGTON - The United States has spent almost US$2 million ($2.9 million) in a bid to bolster the Palestinian Authority's governing Fatah party against the Islamic militant group Hamas before this week's parliamentary election, two US newspapers reported today.

A spokeswoman for the American consulate in East Jerusalem, Micaela Schweitzer-Bluhm, told The New York Times the programme was designed "to work with the Palestinian Authority to enhance democratic institutions and support democratic actors, not just Fatah."

The newspaper cited US and Palestinians officials who asked not to be identified, as saying the programme, which began in August, was aimed at helping defeat Hamas.

The US State Department had no comment.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement was widely expected to lose ground to Hamas in the election on Wednesday.

Hamas, making its first bid for parliamentary seats, has been riding a wave of popularity among Palestinians because of its corruption-free reputation and extensive charity network.

Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction and has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis during a more than five-year-old Palestinian uprising.

The United States and Israel fear Hamas could make a strong enough showing against Abbas' dominant Fatah movement to win cabinet seats.

The Washington Post first reported that the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was spending about US$2 million to finance projects ranging from tree planting to street cleaning and computers at community centres. The projects were co-ordinated with Abbas and meant to be associated with him and the Palestinian Authority, the newspaper said.

US officials said the goal of limiting Hamas' influence in the next Palestinian government outweighed concerns about the decision not to disclose the US government's role in the campaign, the newspaper reported.

"We are not favouring any particular party," said James Bever, the USAID mission director for the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was quoted as saying. "But we do not support parties that are on the terrorism list. We are here to support the democratic process."

- REUTERS