A Kentucky clerk said she will not stop deputies from issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, but added that she will not authorise the licences and questioned their validity.

The US clerk who was jailed after refusing to issue marriage licences to gay couples has asked an appeals court to let her continue her stand until a lawsuit against her is decided.

A Republican senator who had single-handedly blocked a stop-gap measure to extend help for the jobless finally relented under withering assaults from Democrats and dwindling support within his own party.