US Senate approves subpoena for Rove

A United States Senate panel, following the House of Representatives' lead, 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 following some heated exchanges between Republicans and Democrats over whether to press a showdown with President George Bush regarding the sacking of eight US attorneys.