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Iraq battle looms in US Congress Iraq battle looms in US Congress
(about 1 hour later)
President George W Bush will face fresh pressure over his Iraq policy this week as the US Senate debates war funding.President George W Bush will face fresh pressure over his Iraq policy this week as the US Senate debates war funding.
Four Republican senators have withdrawn their support for his strategy in recent days, adding their voice to a growing number calling for a new plan.Four Republican senators have withdrawn their support for his strategy in recent days, adding their voice to a growing number calling for a new plan.
The New York Times says White House officials are debating whether Mr Bush should announce plans now for a gradual pull-out, to stem more defections. The White House has denied reports its officials are debating whether Mr Bush should announce plans now for a gradual pull-out, to stem more defections.
The administration is due to report to Congress on Iraq progress by 15 July.The administration is due to report to Congress on Iraq progress by 15 July.
The interim report, on 18 measures of progress, is required by law under a previous funding bill.The interim report, on 18 measures of progress, is required by law under a previous funding bill.
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has cancelled a planned trip to Latin America in order to concentrate on the debate over Iraq, the Pentagon said on Sunday.US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has cancelled a planned trip to Latin America in order to concentrate on the debate over Iraq, the Pentagon said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has warned that a premature withdrawal of US troops from Iraq could trigger a civil war.Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari has warned that a premature withdrawal of US troops from Iraq could trigger a civil war.
General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, and US ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to report on the progress of the "surge" strategy, under which some 30,000 extra US troops have been deployed in Iraq, on 15 September.General David Petraeus, the US commander in Iraq, and US ambassador Ryan Crocker are due to report on the progress of the "surge" strategy, under which some 30,000 extra US troops have been deployed in Iraq, on 15 September.
Support 'collapsing'Support 'collapsing'
Support for Mr Bush is wavering just as the Senate prepares to discuss a major defence spending bill, a debate that promises to be contentious.Support for Mr Bush is wavering just as the Senate prepares to discuss a major defence spending bill, a debate that promises to be contentious.
There is no debate right now on withdrawing forces right now from Iraq Tony SnowWhite House spokesman
Among those to defect are high-profile Republican Senators Pete Domenici and Richard Lugar, a senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee.
According to the New York Times newspaper, White House officials who previously thought they could wait until September to begin discussions on withdrawal from Iraq now think Mr Bush must act quickly to forestall more unrest in his party.
However, the White House has denied claims it is contemplating pulling US troops out imminently.
President Bush's Iraq policy is losing support within his own partyPresident Bush's Iraq policy is losing support within his own party
The White House has reportedly been shaken by the defection of high-profile Republicans, including Senators Pete Domenici and Richard Lugar, a senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee. Mr Bush had repeatedly stated that he held the goal of withdrawing troops from Iraq as conditions on the ground made it possible, spokesman Tony Snow said.
According to the New York Times, officials who previously thought they could wait until September to begin discussions on withdrawal from Iraq now think Mr Bush must act quickly to forestall more unrest in his party. "But the idea of trying to make a political judgement rather than a military judgement about how to have forces in the field is simply not true," Mr Snow said.
They fear the last pillars of support among Republican senators for Mr Bush's Iraq strategy are collapsing around him, the paper says, and believe he should set out a narrower mission for US forces in Iraq that would allow for a phased withdrawal. He also sought to lower expectations ahead of the interim report on progress in Iraq, saying it was unrealistic to expect all the benchmarks to have been met already.
Republican Senator Susan Collins, from Maine, told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that there had been "a steady erosion for the president's policy" in Congress.
She blamed the change on the "tremendous loss of life among our troops" in June and "the failure of the Iraqi government to pursue the political reforms that are necessary to quell the sectarian violence".
'Security vacuum''Security vacuum'
Democratic leaders may hope to capitalise on the growing divisions in the Republican ranks to make progress on their demands for a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.Democratic leaders may hope to capitalise on the growing divisions in the Republican ranks to make progress on their demands for a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.
Gen Petraeus says more time is needed to see results of the surgeThe Bush administration's surge strategy has seen thousands of extra soldiers deployed to the Baghdad area in an attempt to impose order and so allow political progress to take place.Gen Petraeus says more time is needed to see results of the surgeThe Bush administration's surge strategy has seen thousands of extra soldiers deployed to the Baghdad area in an attempt to impose order and so allow political progress to take place.
Gen Petraeus told the BBC's John Simpson that more time was needed to see the results of the surge because all the troops had only been in place since mid-June.Gen Petraeus told the BBC's John Simpson that more time was needed to see the results of the surge because all the troops had only been in place since mid-June.
But with US casualties mounting and questions over how much progress is being made, many US lawmakers are under pressure from constituents to pursue a change of strategy.But with US casualties mounting and questions over how much progress is being made, many US lawmakers are under pressure from constituents to pursue a change of strategy.
However, speaking after a weekend of violent attacks in Iraq, Mr Zebari warned that a quick pull-out of US forces could be disastrous for his nation.However, speaking after a weekend of violent attacks in Iraq, Mr Zebari warned that a quick pull-out of US forces could be disastrous for his nation.
He said: "This could produce a civil war, partition of the country and a regional war. We might see the country collapse."He said: "This could produce a civil war, partition of the country and a regional war. We might see the country collapse."
Iraqi Vice-President Tarek al-Hashemi told Reuters that he would be very happy to see the last American soldier leave, but asked: "Who will fill the security vacuum if these forces withdraw?"