Democrat US troop withdrawal bid passes first hurdle

A Democratic Party bid to force the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq by September next year at the latest passed its first hurdle on Thursday, after a showdown in a key congressional committee.

The Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives voted to retain the deadline in a provision in US President George W. Bush's US$120 billion budget request for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Republican minority in the House had opposed the move, which also threatened to compel withdrawal even before September next year, if Bush cannot certify benchmarks for progress are being met in Iraq.

The full House was expected to debate the measure next week.

Though Bush has threatened to veto such legislation, Democrats are hoping their tactics will significantly crank up pressure on the president over the unpopular Iraq war.

The Democrat-controlled Senate meanwhile held an impassioned debate over a parallel bid to establish a timetable to get combat troops out of Iraq, and girded for a vote expected later on Thursday.

The plan, also overshadowed by a Bush veto threat, sets a goal of getting soldiers out by the end of next March.

The House and Senate maneuvers were the latest step in a step-by-step escalation of the row over Bush's new plan to surge more than 21,500 extra troops into Iraq.

While the Senate bill's chances of attracting a 60-vote majority needed to overcome Republican procedural hurdles appeared slim, Democrats were also hoping to critically up pressure on Bush's Republican backers.

But even chances of the move winning a simple majority seemed slim.

Democrats have a 51-49 majority in the chamber, but are believed to only be able to count on 49 votes in favor of the resolution.

There was also little sign that significant numbers of Republicans would desert the president, despite reservations over the unpopular war.

"If we leave Iraq before the job is done, I believe, as night follows day, the terrorists will follow us home," Republican Senator John Ensign said.

But Democratic veteran Senator Robert Byrd warned: "The American people are speaking. It is time for a new plan, not more empty rhetoric about stay the course and cut and run."