With both houses of Congress debating war-related legislation, US politicians today awaited the Bush administration’s assessment of political, economic and military progress made by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s government.

As pressure builds for a change in Iraq policy, a top US commander there warned today that withdrawing troops too soon would leave the country “a mess”.

President George Bush’s nomination of John Bolton to be UN ambassador has been shaken again by a Republican senator’s surprise opposition to the embattled nominee, and Democrats hope to seize the opportunity and defeat him in the Senate.

US Under-secretary of State John Bolton’s chances of winning Senate approval to be UN ambassador appeared to brighten as Republican fence-sitters drifted in his direction.

Jerry Springer, the controversial talk show host whose programme often spotlighted the seedier side of American culture, has officially filed papers to run for the US Senate.