Bush faces impeachment bid over Iraq

An American city council that opposed the war on Iraq and recently sued Attorney General John Ashcroft has asked Congress to look into impeaching President George Bush.

City leaders say President Bush violated international treaties by going to war in Iraq, and that he manipulated public fears to justify the war and undercut Constitutional rights.

Councillor Tim Fitzmaurice said yesterday: “It’s time for us to open up this can of worms.”

A year ago, Santa Cruz, in California, became the first of 165 city councils to oppose the war against Iraq.

In April, the city and county of Santa Cruz sued the Drug Enforcement Administration and Mr Ashcroft, marking the first time a public body has sued the federal government on behalf of patients who need medical marijuana.

The resolution passed yesterday authorises Santa Cruz Mayor Emily Reilly to send a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner asking if President Bush has committed any impeachable offences that could lead to his ousting.

White House spokesman Ken Lisaius, responding to Santa Cruz’s current proposal, said the president ”welcomes the fact that we live in a democracy and that people are free to make their opinions known.”