Arab governments to renew pledges to Palestinians

An Arab League report says Arab countries have only provided about half the $660 million a year in aid they pledged to President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority in 2007. The report obtained Friday by The Associated Press says a total of only $368m. was transferred to the Palestinians through the Arab League in 2007. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyadh al-Maliki says the countries are preparing to renew their pledges this weekend at an Arab summit being held in the Syrian capital Damascus. The Palestinian official says Arab foreign ministers agreed on a draft resolution to continue $55m. a month in aid to the Palestinian Authority. He says leaders are expected to endorse the resolution at the summit.