WASHINGTON, May 23 (Reuters) - The Bush administration may ask Congress for permission to use about $27 million in unspent funds to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.

About 50 people have been killed in the latest round of factional fighting between Fatah, Abbas' party, and Hamas, which the United States regards as a terrorist organization.

In April, Congress gave the Bush administration permission to spend nearly $60 million for "nonlethal" aid chiefly to train and equip the Palestinian Presidential Guard, which reports to Abbas.

The money aims to bolster Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas, which leads the Palestinian government. Fatah and Hamas are now members of a fragile national unity government.

"The recent violence in Gaza, and the resulting Palestinian and Israeli casualties, has highlighted the importance of this program," U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch said in written testimony submitted at a congressional hearing.

"We will likely seek your approval for the use of available FY2006 carry-over funds ... to further support President Abbas as he works to enforce law and order," Welch added in the prepared testimony, referring to the U.S. 2006 fiscal year ended on Sept. 30, 2006.

Speaking at a congressional hearing, Welch later said the administration would likely seek permission to use about $27 million in such funds.

He did not give details on how the money might be spent, saying he had not yet made a recommendation to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on this.

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