WASHINGTON: The United States has offered Russia more than #600m in

loan guarantees and other assistance to buy food, and held out hope it

would offer more despite concern that Russia will have difficulty

repaying the loans. The agriculture department announced the package

consisting of #478m in US-backed loan guarantees and #133m in food aid

and other kinds of assistance. Agriculture Secretary Edward Madigan said

the package, which should export millions of tonnes of grain and other

farm products, would support more than 30,000 export-related jobs in the

United States. He said the US may offer more credits or aid next year.