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Bush stands by attorney general Gonzales faces no confidence vote
(about 6 hours later)
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. US senators are preparing to hold a vote of no confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Mr Bush dismissed the vote as "political" and said he would determine whether Mr Gonzales was effective.
Democrats have been trying to force Mr Gonzales to resign over the sacking of nine federal prosecutors last year.Democrats have been trying to force Mr Gonzales to resign over the sacking of nine federal prosecutors last year.
Correspondents say that if the vote is passed it will represent a serious blow to the administration. He is backed by President George W Bush however, who dismissed the vote as "political" and said he would determine whether Mr Gonzales was effective.
Correspondents say that if the symbolic vote is passed, it will represent a serious blow to the administration.
However, it is thought that Republicans in the Senate will block the non-binding vote despite many having joined the Democrats in their criticism of Mr Gonzales.
The resolution would need the support of 60 senators to take it to a final vote. The Democrats have a majority of 51, including two independents who normally vote with them.
Senators have begun debating the resolution, which states that the attorney general "no longer holds the confidence of the Senate and of the American people".
Domestic issuesDomestic issues
Mr Gonzales is accused of concealing from Congress a political motivation behind the sacking of the federal prosecutors. The row stems from accusations that Mr Gonzales concealed from Congress a political motivation behind the sacking of the federal prosecutors.
But at a news conference in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, Mr Bush said Mr Gonzales had committed "no wrongdoing". Democratic Senator Charles Schumer reminded senators that calls for Mr Gonzales's resignation had come from senators in both parties.
They can try to have their votes of no confidence, but it's not going to determine who serves in my government President George W Bush
"If all senators who have actually lost confidence in Attorney General Gonzales voted their conscience, this vote would be unanimous," he said.
Senator Arlen Specter, the most senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was concerned that the vote was a political tactic by the Democrats - but nonetheless, he had no confidence in Mr Gonzales.
At a news conference in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, Mr Bush said Mr Gonzales had committed "no wrongdoing".
"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."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 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.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.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.