News In Brief

Fight over Salvadorean aid goes on; Afghan money OK'd

The House Appropriations Committee on Friday turned down President Reagan's request for an additional $117 million military aid package to help El Salvador fight leftist guerrillas, contending that the $126 million already provided this year should be enough. The Reagan administration, however, is predicting it will win the battle.

Meanwhile, a congressional source said the appropriations panel secretly approved $50 million in covert aid to Afghan rebels. Unlike aid to the Nicaraguan rebels, aid to the Afghan rebels has strong bipartisan backing on Capitol Hill.