King Abdullah donates $1 bln for Gaza

KUWAIT CITY: Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz on Monday announced the donation of one billion dollars for the reconstruction of Gaza and called for putting an end to Arab differences.
"On behalf of the Saudi people, I declare the donation of one billion dollars for programmes to rebuild Gaza," the Saudi monarch said at the opening session of an Arab summit in Kuwait.
"We have to overcome Arab political differences that led to a division in the Arab ranks which can be exploited by those who want to achieve their regional ambitions" King Abdullah said.
He also warned that the Arab peace initiative "will not remain on the table forever."
Arab leaders are tipped to approve the setting up of a two-billion dollar fund for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Kuwait's ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah announced at the summit's opening his country will donate all 34 million dollars needed by the UN relief agency for refugees, or UNRWA, for its Gaza Strip relief work.
Qatar last week suggested the setting up of a fund for Gaza and donated 250 million dollars.
The donations came a day after fighting stopped in Gaza between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas, allowing residents to survey the damage from the 22-day war.
Gaza medics said more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive was launched on December 27. The Jewish state has put its death toll at 13, including three civilians.

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India's swine flu death rate is increasing

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