CLINTON, CONGRESS LEADERS GANG UP ON PRO-LIFERS, SOURCES SAY

      WASHINGTON, DC (CWN) - Congressional leaders and President Bill Clinton on Wednesday were near an agreement on a foreign aid bill they hoped would push pro-life Congressmen to give up opposition to US funding of foreign groups that provide or promote abortions, one of the last items keeping Congress from adjourning for the year.

       Under the compromise, according the Associated Press, Clinton would promise to veto restrictions on funding for population control groups that provide abortions or lobby for abortion overseas, in the hope that pro-life representatives would be convinced their opposition the funding would ultimately fail. Then, lawmakers would send him legislation without those restrictions containing $385 million for foreign aid to family planning groups -- the same as last year but $50 million less than Clinton wants for 1998.

       The potential deal was described by Republican and Democratic lawmakers close to the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. The controversy over abortion funding is part of a $13 billion foreign aid bill.

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