Republicans in the House of Representatives confronted with a revolt among the party’s rank and file abruptly delayed a vote on legislation to avert a fast-approaching “fiscal cliff”.

Gabrielle Giffords is to step down from the US Congress this week to concentrate on recovering from wounds suffered in an assassination attempt a little more than a year ago that shocked America.

America’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives has approved a bitterly-fought compromise to prevent a US debt default – with a price tag of deep spending cuts.

US senators have delayed a crucial vote on a bill to raise the country's debt limit ahead of Tuesday's deadline.

An angry Barack Obama defended his tax deal with Republicans and hit back at critical fellow Democrats, warning them against becoming too ideologically pure and self-satisfied.

House Democratic leaders are predicting victory for President Barack Obama’s bill to overhaul the US health care system.

President George Bush told Congress’ lower house today that the state of America’s troubled economy “demands” that it followed the Senate’s lead and passed a €487bn rescue package.

Republicans and Democrats alike are claiming victory as Congress moves this week toward passing a final Iraq spending bill that does not order US troops home.

US PRESIDENT George W Bush, under growing political pressure, agreed last night to negotiate with Congress on a war-spending bill that sets benchmarks for progress in Iraq.

The White House today acknowledged public frustration with the Iraq war but tried to play down Republican anxieties as the House of Representatives prepared to pass legislation that could cut off funding for US troops as early as July.

Ignoring a presidential veto threat, Democrats in the US House of Representatives predict they have enough votes today to pass legislation requiring American troops to begin leaving Iraq by October 1.

In a direct challenge to US President George Bush, Democrats in the House of Representatives today announced they will push legislation setting a timetable for the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq.

The Pentagon has approved a request by the new US commander in Iraq for an extra 2,200 military police (MPs) to help deal with an anticipated increase in detainees during the current Baghdad security crackdown.

The White House has confirmed that its hunt for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction – a two-year search costing millions – has ended without finding the stockpiles that President George Bush made his justification for overthrowing Saddam Hussein.

Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle will not run for US president, saying today his passion 'lies here in the Senate'.

President George Bush and his party were today sketching an agenda for a new, Republican-controlled US Congress, after their historic mid-term election victory.

Britain and the US have reached agreement on a tough UN resolution on Iraq and will present a proposed text to Russia, France and China, the other permanent members of the Security Council, a senior White House official said tonight.

US Vice President Dick Cheney has warned of grave consequences from not acting quickly against Saddam Hussein.