Congress rejects Bush's move to increase troops in Iraq

The US House of Representatives last night issued a symbolic rejection of President George Bush's plan to deploy more troops to Iraq.

The 246-182 approval of a resolution opened an epic confrontation between Congress and Bush over an unpopular war that has taken the lives of more than 3,100 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis.

"The stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who as leader of the Democratic majority controls the House agenda.

She gained power last autumn in elections framed by public opposition to the war.

"The passage of this legislation will signal a change in direction in Iraq that will end the fighting and bring our troops home," she vowed.

Bush's Republican allies argued against the measure and said it portended a Democratic attempt to cut off money for the troops.

"Their so-called slow-bleed approach is the bite that will surely hurt those fighting under America's flag overseas," said Republican Roy Blunt.

"This non-binding resolution is the first step in an all-too-binding spiral towards defeat in a fight that we cannot afford to lose," he said.