US:Democrats in the House of Representatives have failed to override President George W Bush's veto of a Bill that would link funding for the war in Iraq with a commitment to withdraw US combat troops next year.
Using the veto for only the second time in his six years as president, Mr Bush on Tuesday rejected the war funding Bill, saying he could not sign legislation he claimed was unconstitutional.
"It purports to direct the conduct of the operations of the war in a way that infringes upon the powers vested in the presidency by the constitution, including as commander in chief of the armed forces," he said.
Shortly after yesterday's 222-203 vote, well short of the two-thirds majority needed to overturn a veto, Republican and Democratic House and Senate leaders met Mr Bush at the White House to begin working on a new Bill.
House majority leader Steny Hoyer said he wanted the House to take up a new version of the Bill in the next two weeks, adding that he expected the next steps to be taken promptly.
"We're not going to leave our troops in harm's way . . . without the resources they need," he said.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi blamed Mr Bush for the impasse over funding the war, claiming that he was ignoring the public's wish to get US troops out of Iraq.
"The president has turned a tin ear to the wishes of the American people. The president wants a blank cheque. The Congress will not give it to him," she said.
In his message to Congress vetoing the Bill, Mr Bush warned that withdrawing from Iraq too soon could create chaos in the region and imperil US security.
"Precipitous withdrawal from Iraq is not a plan to bring peace to the region or to make our people safer here at home. The mandated withdrawal in this Bill could embolden our enemies - and confirm their belief that America will not stand behind its commitments," he said.
"It could lead to a safe haven in Iraq for terrorism that could be used to attack America and freedom-loving people around the world, and is likely to unleash chaos in Iraq that could spread across the region.
"Ultimately, a precipitous withdrawal could increase the probability that American troops would have to one day return to Iraq - to confront an even more dangerous enemy."
Despite yesterday's defiant statements, however, Democrats are likely to seek a compromise with Republicans to avoid cutting off funding for the war.
Any compromise the Democratic leadership makes with the White House could alienate the anti-war wing of the party, which is becoming increasingly impatient.
Mr Hoyer has not started formal discussions with Republicans on a new version of the Bill, but said he may be interested in finding agreement on a provision requiring Iraqis to meet certain political and security benchmarks. Congressional Republicans have said they are in favour of linking reconstruction spending in Iraq with the performance of the Iraqi government, although the administration opposes setting such conditions.
"We're now at the point in time when there are certainly going to be discussions," Mr Hoyer said.
Republicans are torn between their wish to embarrass the Democrats and their eagerness to put some political distance between themselves and the president's unpopular policy in Iraq.
