Republicans were last night on course to make major gains and possibly recapture control of the US Senate in mid-term elections that could serve as a public referendum on President Barack Obama’s job performance.

Landmark US health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama passed its sternest Senate test in the pre-dawn hours early today, overcoming Republican delaying tactics on a 60-40 vote that all but assures its passage this week.

US President George W Bush yesterday said that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld “will stay in my Cabinet” despite calls for his resignation by Democrats in the wake of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at the hands of American captors.