The U.S. Senate is headed for a confrontation with President Bush over how best to try and treat terror suspects.
In a 15 to nine vote, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday approved a bill that would give prisoners more legal rights than the president wants.
The legislation was pushed by three top Republicans, including committee Chairman John Warner. He hinted a compromise remains possible, but believes the White House approach will not meet constitutional standards outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Senate committee wants to try terror suspects with a more traditional, military-style approach. A full Senate vote on the bill may come as early as next week.
President Bush made a personal visit Thursday to Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a committee has already approved the bill favored by the White House.
Among those backing the Senate committee's version is Mr. Bush's first secretary of state, Colin Powell, who argues "the world is beginning to doubt the moral basis" of the fight against terrorism.
The showdown between President Bush and the Republican senators comes just before key November elections, with Republicans hoping to keep control of both houses of Congress.
All the Democrats and one other Republican on the Senate Armed Services committee voted in favor of the bill opposed by the White House.
Democrats have accused Mr. Bush of focusing on terrorism to divert attention from the war in Iraq, with many Americans becoming increasingly opposed to U.S. involvement in Iraq.
In a 15 to nine vote, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday approved a bill that would give prisoners more legal rights than the president wants.
The legislation was pushed by three top Republicans, including committee Chairman John Warner. He hinted a compromise remains possible, but believes the White House approach will not meet constitutional standards outlined by the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Senate committee wants to try terror suspects with a more traditional, military-style approach. A full Senate vote on the bill may come as early as next week.
President Bush made a personal visit Thursday to Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, where a committee has already approved the bill favored by the White House.
Among those backing the Senate committee's version is Mr. Bush's first secretary of state, Colin Powell, who argues "the world is beginning to doubt the moral basis" of the fight against terrorism.
The showdown between President Bush and the Republican senators comes just before key November elections, with Republicans hoping to keep control of both houses of Congress.
All the Democrats and one other Republican on the Senate Armed Services committee voted in favor of the bill opposed by the White House.
Democrats have accused Mr. Bush of focusing on terrorism to divert attention from the war in Iraq, with many Americans becoming increasingly opposed to U.S. involvement in Iraq.