Congress votes for Bush to bring Iraq troops home

A SHARPLY divided US House of Representatives voted yesterday to order President George W Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year — a victory for Democrats in an epic war-powers struggle and Congress’ boldest challenge yet to the administration’s policy.

Ignoring a White House veto threat, lawmakers voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill requiring that combat operations cease before September 2008, or earlier if the Iraqi government does not meet certain requirements.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s deputy prime minister Salam al-Zubaie was gravely injured yesterday in a suicide bombing at a mosque in the courtyard of his home.