The flood-ravaged communities of the Midwest became a new battleground in the US presidential election as Democrat Barack Obama criticised Republican John McCain for opposing federal spending on flood prevention programmes, attacks Mr McCain’s campaign called typical partisan politics.

The Archbishop of Canterbury in England is to evaluate a statement in which episcopal leaders in the US agree to “exercise restraint” in approving another gay bishop and not to authorise prayers to bless same-sex couples.

US Democratic hopeful John Kerry has called for monthly debates with President George W. Bush to elevate the tenor of a presidential election campaign that has opened with a relentlessly negative tone.