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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Bush faces eavesdropping subpoena | Bush faces eavesdropping subpoena |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US Senate has issued a subpoena ordering the White House to give up documents related to its surveillance of domestic terror suspects. | The US Senate has issued a subpoena ordering the White House to give up documents related to its surveillance of domestic terror suspects. |
| The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the Bush administration to give up the papers as part of its inquiry into the controversial spying programme. | The Senate Judiciary Committee asked the Bush administration to give up the papers as part of its inquiry into the controversial spying programme. |
| The administration has refused a series of requests to release the documents. | The administration has refused a series of requests to release the documents. |
| The president rejects claims he broke the law by ordering surveillance without first securing warrants. | The president rejects claims he broke the law by ordering surveillance without first securing warrants. |
| The programme, authorised after the 9/11 attacks, enabled the government to monitor the overseas e-mail and telephone communications of Americans suspected of ties to terrorists. | |
| While the president says his wartime powers allowed him to authorise surveillance without the need for a warrant, critics say he violated Americans' civil liberties. | |
| The secret spying programme became public in 2005. | |
| July deadline | |
| The Senate Judiciary Committee's subpoenas target the White House, Vice President Dick Cheney, the National Security Council and the Department of Justice. | |
| Their intention is to shed light on any discussion that may have taken place within the administration on the legality of the spying programme. | |
| "Our attempts to obtain information through testimony of administration witnesses have been met with a consistent pattern of evasion and misdirection," the Senate Committee's chairman, Patrick Leahy, says. | |
| "There is no legitimate argument for withholding the requested materials from this committee." | |
| The White House has until 18 July to comply with the demand, according to the Democratic-led Senate committee. | |
| It is unclear whether it will do so, or mount a legal challenge to the subpoena. | |
| "We're aware of the committee's action and will respond appropriately," a White House spokesman told the Associated Press news agency. | |
| "It's unfortunate that congressional Democrats continue to choose the route of confrontation." |