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US Senate rejects Iraq troop bid US Senate rejects Iraq troop vote
(about 1 hour later)
Democrats in the US Senate have failed to force a vote on whether to withdraw troops from Iraq by the end of April, despite a rare all-night debate. Republicans in the US Senate have blocked Democratic plans for a vote on withdrawing troops from Iraq by the end of April, ending an all-night debate.
Beds, pillows and snacks were brought in for the 24-hour session, aimed at putting pressure on the Republicans who have been blocking the vote. The Democrats, with 52-47 in favour, fell short of the 60 ballots required to move the proposal to a final vote.
But a crucial handful of Republicans who have criticised the president's Iraq policy refused to back the plan. They had hoped the marathon talks would put pressure on Republicans who had criticised the president's Iraq policy - but only three supported the measure.
Republican leaders dismissed the debate as a publicity stunt. Republican leaders dismissed the overnight debate as a publicity stunt.
Republicans have been blocking a vote on the troop withdrawal by requiring Democrats to clear a procedural hurdle of 60 rather than a simple majority of the Senate's 100 members. Republicans have been blocking progress to a final vote on the troop withdrawal by requiring Democrats to clear a procedural hurdle of 60 votes in favour, rather than a simple majority of the Senate's 100 members.
Bringing to a close the marathon talks, the senators reached a majority but fell short of the threshold needed to move the proposal forward. The Democrats failed to woo wavering Republicans on IraqThree Republican senators had previously announced they would support the Democrats' bill - Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe and Chuck Hagel.
Sleepless night The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says most Republicans who are unhappy with the current course in Iraq favour less direct measures to influence policy and were hoping to vote on these in the next few days.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to lobby members of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Mr Bush's Iraq policy. However, our correspondent says, it appears that, for the moment, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid does not want to allow them to do so.
The Democrats want to put pressure on wavering RepublicansThe legislation, proposed by Democratic senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed, required the withdrawal of most US troops from Iraq by the end of April 2008, with redeployment starting within 120 days of the bill's passage. He has directed the Senate to move on to discussion of legislation unrelated to the Iraq war.
Even if the measure had been passed, President George W Bush has said he would veto any bill that called on him to set a timetable for withdrawing troops. Veto threat
Opening the round-the-clock debate on Tuesday, Democrat Richard Durbin said: "The Senate spending a sleepless night is no great sacrifice. Soldiers and families who pray for them spend many sleepless nights." As senators cast their votes, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was on Capitol Hill lobbying lawmakers on President George W Bush's Iraq policy.
But Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said: "Our enemies aren't threatened by talk-a-thons, and our troops deserve better than publicity stunts." The legislation, proposed by Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Jack Reed, would have required the withdrawal of most US troops from Iraq by the end of April 2008, with redeployment starting within 120 days of the bill's passage.
Even if the measure had been passed, President George W Bush had said he would veto any bill that called on him to set a timetable for withdrawing troops.
Many Republicans have backed Mr Bush's call to wait until a 15 September progress report on Iraq before considering a change in direction.Many Republicans have backed Mr Bush's call to wait until a 15 September progress report on Iraq before considering a change in direction.
Following the result, Senator Joseph Biden, a Democrat and chair of the foreign relations committee, said: "We have to get us out of a middle of a civil war."
He said a political solution must be found "so when we leave Iraq, we don't just send our children home, we don't have to send our grandchildren back".
Earlier, Republican Senator John McCain described the talks as an "exhibition" which substituted "theatrics for statesmanship".