ATLANTA, Georgia Aug 21 (AFP) - A challenger supported by pro-Israel funds Wednesday appeared headed for victory in a Democratic primary for a US congressional seat held by a five-term representative backed by Arab Americans.

With 95 percent of precincts in after Tuesday's voting in Georgia's fourth congressional district, the little known Denise Majette had 60 percent of the votes, with 40 percent going to the controversial and outspoken Cynthia McKinney.

Vote counting was still under way early Wednesday morning.

The electoral battle between the two African American women at times seemed like a referendum on the Middle East, as Jewish groups, infuriated by McKinney's support of Arab causes, contributed heavily to Majette's campaign fund, while pro-Arab donors pumped funds into the incumbent's coffers.

Majette also got votes from Republicans who crossed over to the Democratic camp to ensure the incumbent is defeated. McKinney had caused outrage when she claimed President George W. Bush had advance knowledge of the September 11 terrorist attacks and suggested his friends in the defense industry could profit from a war.

McKinney stirred controversy right into voting day. The office of the Georgia Secretary of State announced Tuesday it was investigating complaints from Republicans who said they received recorded phone messages warning them -- wrongly -- that it is against the law to cross party lines and vote in the Democratic primary.

McKinney is no stranger to controversy and came under fire during her campaign, when the Congressional Quarterly said the FBI was investigating some donors to her campaign for links to terrorist organizations.

McKinney's reports to the Federal Election Commission showed heavy contributions from Arab American sources outside Atlanta and the state of Georgia, into her 623,000 dollar campaign funds.

At the same time, the Congressional Quarterly said that 200 donors from around the US, mainly pro-Israel groups, gave to the Majette campaign, after earlier contributing to the Alabama campaign of Artur Davis, who defeated incumbent Representative Earl F. Hilliard for a seat in Congress in a June runoff. Hilliard also championed Arab causes and once visited Libya, long considered a haven for terrorists.

McKinney also faced criticism for using the names of political celebrities in her campaign without their consent.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, who is also the former mayor of Atlanta, said it was "a fudge" for the incumbent's campaign to use an old endorsement by him for McKinney. Voters received phone messages Monday and Tuesday with a tape recorded message by Young urging them to vote for McKinney.

There was also an old tape of actor Robert Redford and former president Bill Clinton touting McKinney. A spokesperson for Redford called the recycled endorsement "inappropriate." A Clinton spokesperson said the former president had not made an endorsement of McKinney.

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