CHICAGO, Sept 18, 2007 (AFP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday announced that it was donating 280 million dollars over five years to finance research on combating tuberculosis.

The funding is to be shared between 11 separate grants covering TB vaccines, diagnostic tests, and medications, comes with the dread lung ailment on the rise.

Tuberculosis kills some two million people each year, mostly in developing countries.

WASHINGTON, Sept 17, 2007 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned Monday that Afghanistan is a 'litmus test' for NATO and would be 'a mark of shame on all of us' if the alliance falters in laying the foundations for democracy there.

Gates alluded to both Afghanistan and Iraq in a speech in Williamsburg, Virginia that argued for realism in advancing US values of democracy and freedom around the world.

WASHINGTON, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - The United States will continue to pursue diplomatic and economic means to force Iran to halt its nuclear drive, but 'all options are on the table,' Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.

'We always say all options are on the table. But clearly, the diplomatic and economic approach is the one we're pursuing,' he said on Fox News, adding that diplomacy was 'by far the preferrable approach.'

WASHINGTON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday he hopes US forces in Iraq can be drawn down to about 100,000 troops by the time a new president takes office in January 2009.

Such a move would reduce US combat strength in the country by half, from 20 combat brigades to 10, cutting much deeper than the more modest troops reductions recommended by General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq.

WASHINGTON, Sept 14, 2007 (AFP) - President George W. Bush's senior US military commanders and advisers agreed with General David Petraeus' recommendations for force cuts in Iraq, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.

Gates said the reductions in December were the start of a US military transition in Iraq that will leave a long-term presence in Iraq at 'a fraction of the size of today's desployed force.'

WASHINGTON, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - The United States envisions a long-term residual US military presence in Iraq, amid 'disappointing' political progress that will force a strategic reassessment next month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.

Gates said a reduction in the 155,000-strong US force in Iraq by the end of this year was 'a possibility' but gave no hint of what US Ambassador Ryan Crocker and General David Petraeus will recommend when they report to Congress in September.

WASHINGTON, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - Iraq's failure to make political progress will lead to a strategic reassessment next month but the United States still envisions a residual US military presence for a protracted period, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.

Gates called national reconciliation efforts 'disappointing,' and said he had warned Iraqi leaders that leaving on vacation was unacceptable because 'every day we buy you ... we are buying with American blood.'

WASHINGTON, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - The United States will have to make a strategic reassessment in mid-September if Iraq fails to pass laws aimed at reconciliation in the next few weeks, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday.

Gates called reconciliation efforts at the national level 'disappointing' and said he had warned Iraqi leaders that leaving on vacation was unacceptable because 'every day we buy you is, we are buying with American blood.'

ABOARD A US AIR FORCE JET, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Tuesday that his rare joint visit to Egypt and Saudi Arabia with Secretary of States Condoleezza Rice demonstrated US commitment to the region.

Gates was speaking as he headed to the Middle East to explore billions of dollars worth of arms sales and expanded military cooperation with Arab states to thwart Iranian ambitions.

That both he and Rice were headed there showed 'the importance we attach to reassuring our friends out here of our staying power', he said.

SHANNON, Ireland, July 31, 2007 (AFP) - A multi-billion dollar US arms package for Middle East allies aimed at containing Iran's influence will not destabilise the region, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday.

The weapons packages bound for Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and Israel would not tilt the fragile military and strategic balance in the oil-rich region, said Rice.

She dismissed Iran's charges that the arms package would create fear and dampen relations between countries in the Middle East, turning the accusation back on Tehran.

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - The United States announced Monday new military pacts worth 20 billion dollars for Saudi Arabia, 13 billion dollars for Egypt and 30 billion for Israel in a bid to counter Iran.

Details of the new Middle East military aid bonanza came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates left Washington for a rare joint trip to the region, seeking assurances of help in stabilizing Iraq.

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - The United States Monday announced new military pacts worth 13 billion dollars for Egypt, 30 billion for Israel and billions more for Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, in a bid to counter Iran.

Details of the new Middle East military aid bonanza came as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates set off on a rare joint trip to the region, seeking assurances of help in stabilizing Iraq.

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - The United States is forging new military aid pacts with Middle East allies to counter 'negative' influences by Al-Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, as well as Syria and Iran, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.

Ahead of her trip to the Middle East with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, she confirmed that efforts were under way to conclude new 10-year military assistance deals with Israel providing a total of 30 billion dollars and with Egypt worth 13 billion dollars.

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - The United States is beginning talks with Egypt on a 10-year arms deal worth 13 billion dollars, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced Monday ahead of her trip to the Middle East with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

She said Washington was 'beginning discussions with the Government of Egypt on a new ten-year, 13 billion dollar military assistance agreement which will strengthen Egypt's ability to address shared strategic goals.'

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush's defense chief and top diplomat head Monday on a vital mission to the Middle East to seek Arab support for Iraq and discuss weapons sales to regional allies.

Amid growing calls at home to withdraw US forces in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and defense chief Robert Gates were also expected to reaffirm US commitment to regional security against possible threats from Iran and its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush's defense chief and top diplomat head Monday on a vital mission to the Middle East to seek Arab support for Iraq and discuss weapons sales to regional allies.

Amid growing calls at home to withdraw US forces in Iraq, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and defense chief Robert Gates were also expected to reaffirm US commitment to regional security against possible threats from Iran and its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were set to depart Monday for a vital Middle East mission seeking Arab support for Iraq and consultations on aid and weapons sales to allies in the region.

Amid growing calls at home to withdraw US forces in Iraq, Rice and Gates were expected to reaffirm US commitment to regional security against possible threats from Iran and its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2007 (AFP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates leave Monday on a vital Middle East mission to seek Arab support to bolster Iraq and to discuss weapons sales with allies.

Amid growing calls at home to withdraw US forces in Iraq, the duo are also expected to reaffirm US commitment to regional security against possible threats from Iran and its nuclear program.

WASHINGTON, July 27, 2007 (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates will assure Arab states next week of US commitment to the region whatever happens in Iraq, senior US officials said Friday.

But in their rare joint visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Rice and Gates also will press Arab allies to back Sunni moderates in Iraq and constructively engage the Shiite-led government in Baghdad, they said.

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a letter made public Thursday he is actively involved in planning for a draw down of US forces in Iraq.

Gates` comments on the subject was in response to a letter from Senator Hillary Clinton requesting briefings on contingency planning for a future withdrawal of US forces.

In his response, Gates rebuffed the request but promised to find a way 'to keep you apprised of the conceptual thinking, factors, considerations, questions and objectives associated with draw down planning.'