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US Senators debate Gonzales' fate Bush stands by attorney general
(about 8 hours later)
The US Senate is to debate a motion of no confidence in Alberto Gonzales, President Bush's attorney-general. US President George W Bush has expressed support for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who is facing a vote of no confidence in the US Senate.
Democrats have been trying to force Mr Gonzales to resign following a row over his role in the sacking of a number of federal prosecutors last year. Mr Bush dismissed the vote as "political" and said he would determine whether Mr Gonzales was effective.
The White House called the vote purely symbolic and promised to ignore it. Democrats have been trying to force Mr Gonzales to resign over the sacking of nine federal prosecutors last year.
But if a significant number of Republicans side with the Democrats, the entire Bush administration will receive yet another body blow. Correspondents say that if the vote is passed it will represent a serious blow to the administration.
Mr Gonzales is accused of concealing from Congress the political motivation behind the sacking of some federal prosecutors. Domestic issues
His actions do not appear to have been illegal but he is very short of friends - as is the president he serves. Mr Gonzales is accused of concealing from Congress a political motivation behind the sacking of the federal prosecutors.
The vote comes in the wake of the White House decision to choose a new chairman of the joint chiefs-of-staff in order to avoid a row with Congress. But at a news conference in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, Mr Bush said Mr Gonzales had committed "no wrongdoing".
Last week, the Bush administration decided that Gen Peter Pace, America's top soldier, would be given such a rough ride in his Senator hearings that it was not worth the effort involved in having his contract renewed. "They can try to have their votes of no confidence, but it's not going to determine who serves in my government," Mr Bush said.
The BBC's correspondent in Sofia says US reporters following Mr Bush focused on entirely domestic issues - a sign that the president's brief respite from his political troubles at home is now over.
The no-confidence vote comes in the wake of the White House decision to choose a new chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in order to avoid a row with Congress.
Last week, the Bush administration decided that Gen Peter Pace would be given such a rough ride in his Senate hearings that it was not worth the effort involved in having his contract renewed.
The White House has also lost an important vote on its main domestic programme - immigration reform.The White House has also lost an important vote on its main domestic programme - immigration reform.