Republicans block vote on troop pullout

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's fellow Republicans in the Senate on Wednesday blocked a Democratic proposal to force him to withdraw American combat troops from Iraq after a rare round-the-clock debate.

The action prompted weary and frustrated Senate Democrats to postpone consideration of other measures to bring the war to an end. But they voiced confidence more Republicans would soon join their efforts.

On a vote of 52-47, backers fell short of the needed 60 to clear a Republican procedural hurdle and move toward passage of an April 30, 2008, deadline for removing U.S. combat troops from Iraq.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada responded by suspending consideration on a defense policy bill until Republicans drop procedural tactics that prevented passage of the withdrawal plan.

"There are two things that I want to accomplish. One is to pass a defense authorization bill, but with a deadline dealing with Iraq," Reid said. "If that's tomorrow, we'll do it tomorrow. If it's later, we'll do it later."

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