Subpoenas authorised for top Bush aides in sackings dispute

A UNITED States Senate panel has authorised subpoenas for White House political adviser Karl Rove and other top aides involved in the sacking of federal prosecutors.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, by voice vote, approved the subpoenas as Republicans and Democrats sparred over whether to press a showdown with the president over the sacking of eight US attorneys.

Democrats angrily rejected George W Bush’s offer to grant a limited number of politicians private interviews with the aides with no transcript and without swearing them in. Republicans asked for restraint.