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| House of Representatives votes against US Libya role | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The US House of Representatives has voted against a resolution giving President Barack Obama authority to order US operations in Libya. | The US House of Representatives has voted against a resolution giving President Barack Obama authority to order US operations in Libya. |
| The Republican-dominated House voted it down by 295 votes to 123. Analysts say it is largely a symbolic protest. | The Republican-dominated House voted it down by 295 votes to 123. Analysts say it is largely a symbolic protest. |
| US backing for the Nato operation in Libya has drawn criticism from many in Congress in recent weeks. | US backing for the Nato operation in Libya has drawn criticism from many in Congress in recent weeks. |
| They say the three-month-old military operation is in breach of legislation requiring the backing of Congress. | |
| Mr Obama says he does not need additional congressional approval, as US forces are simply supporting Nato. | |
| War Powers resolution | |
| Under the terms of the resolution, the US would have been allowed to conduct "limited" operations for one year in Libya. | Under the terms of the resolution, the US would have been allowed to conduct "limited" operations for one year in Libya. |
| The introduction of ground troops would have been banned. | The introduction of ground troops would have been banned. |
| A related vote on limiting funding to the US operation in Libya is also scheduled for Friday. | A related vote on limiting funding to the US operation in Libya is also scheduled for Friday. |
| Analysts suggest Democrats angry at Mr Obama's continued commitment of resources to the Libya campaign could refuse to vote against the resolution, delivering another rebuke to the president. | |
| The disagreement between Congress and the White House stems from a Vietnam War-era law, the War Powers resolution, intended to constrain the president's ability to wage military conflict with congressional approval. | |
| Under the US constitution, only Congress can declare war, and the 1973 War Powers resolution requires that, without such a declaration, a president who sends US military forces into conflict must get authorisation from Congress if the hostilities last longer than 90 days. | |
| Last week, Mr Obama informed Congress that administration lawyers deemed the Libya conflict did not require additional congressional approval, arguing US forces were merely playing a supporting role in the Nato campaign. | |
| That role, the White House says, does not match the definition of "hostilities" as described in the War Powers resolution. |