News In Brief

Costa Rica officially asks for emergency military aid

Costa Rica has officially requested immediate emergency military aid from the United States to help fend off a threat from neighboring Nicaragua, the State Department said Saturday.

The dollar value of the aid sought by Costa Rica could not immediately be determined, but it was understood to be in the range of $2 million.

Congress has appropriated $2.1 million in military aid for Costa Rica's internal police forces during the current fiscal year, but spokesman Brian Carlson said most of this already has been provided and that shipment of the small amount remaining is being accelerated.

Costa Rica is the only Central American nation without a standing army.