U.N. states overcome impasse to pass peacekeeping budget

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. General Assembly committee approved on Thursday a new troop-reimbursement rate for countries contributing nearly 100,000 peacekeepers to 16 missions, overcoming an impasse that left the world body's operations in financial limbo for three days.

Budget negotiations between the 193 member states had hit a standstill on the monthly reimbursement rates for the next four years: The Group of 77 developing nations and China wanted a more than 50 percent jump to $1,763 (£1,027), while Western donor states wanted a smaller increase, diplomats said.