Bush pressed on withdrawal of troops

Two leading Republican senators delivered a sharp blow to President George Bush's Iraq policy yesterday, demanding that he seek Congressional approval for the war again and draw up plans to reduce American forces by the end of the year.

A coalition of Republicans and Democrats is taking shape that could force the President's hand and end the US role in this unpopular war against his wishes. The move by John Warner and Richard Lugar, critics of the current buildup of troops in Iraq, is to be considered next week.

Related articles

• Robert Fisk: TE Lawrence had it right about Iraq
• 'New York Times' journalist killed in Iraq
• Search the news archive for more stories

With the Congress and the White House in open conflict over the Iraq policy, the senators want a bipartisan plan that will force the President to alter course. Mr Lugar said he wanted a "sustainable policy in Iraq that reduces our troop commitments" and to change the role of the US military which is now caught "between sectarian factions".

Mr Lugar and Mr Warner are widely respected and their break with Mr Bush is sure to lead to more Republican defections.

With his policy in disarray, Mr Bush now describes the war in Iraq as a full-scale conflict with al-Qa'ida. In talking up al-Qa'ida's role in Iraq Mr Bush is attempting to tap into deep-seated American fears of terrorism. The oft-repeated mantra of 11 September 2001 provided him with support for the invasion in the first place. Now he is warning that there would be " mass killings on a horrific scale", if the US was forced to withdraw.

He made some 30 references to al-Qa'ida on Thursday and brushed aside suggestions that the invasion had encouraged its growth. The response from the House was a vote of 223-to-201, to demand that that the US withdraw most of its combat troops by next April.

Four Republican members broke with the President, after an intense campaign by the White House to halt further defections.

The next hurdle for the anti-war lobby is to get at least 60 senators to approve a troop withdrawal. The Democrats have so far failed to persuade enough Republicans to change sides and force a change in policy on the war. There are growing signs that the Republican Party is about to splinter despite Mr Bush's efforts.

The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, defended the Baghdad government from critics in Congress, saying the Bush administration needs two more months to find a "coherent way forward" in Iraq.