Democrats Vote to Cut Off Iraq War Funds Beyond July

President George Bush today came under renewed pressure on Iraq after Democrats moved to cut off funding for the war beyond mid-July.

House Democrats brushed aside Mr Bush's appeal to allow more time for the 30,000 extra troops sent to Iraq to produce results.

In a 221-205 vote the House voted for only enough money to continue combat for the next two or three months, without any guarantee of future funding.

The bill is unlikely to survive in the Senate but highlights growing impatience with the administration and the lack of movement towards political reconciliation in Iraq. A decision by the Iraqi parliament to take a two-month summer break has exacerbated the situation.

A delegation of moderate Republicans this week warned Mr Bush and senior officials that their patience is running out.

Iraqi government officials were in Washington this week to warn that pulling out US troops would be disastrous. The Iraqi deputy prime minister, Barham Salih, met more than 30 House Republicans and senators including the Democrats Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton, and John Warner, a Republican.

"He understands that American patience is waning," said Senator Norm Coleman after meeting Mr Salih and the Iraqi ambassador Samir Shakir al-Sumaidaie.

A rightwing Republican, Senator Coleman in recent months has become deeply sceptical of the president's decision to send in additional troops and says patience on the war is waning.

Mr Salih - a Kurdish politician highly regarded by US officials - said he came to Capitol Hill to convey the "imperative of success" in Iraq.

"Iraq is a central battleground in this historic conflict" against terrorism, he said in a brief interview after meeting with Mr Reid, the Senate majority leader, who has said the war is lost. Even moderate Republicans have told Mr Bush that he cannot count on the support of his party beyond September when General David Petraeus, the commander of forces in Iraq, is to deliver a progress report on the "surge" strategy.

Congress this month is expected to send Mr Bush legislation that funds the war in Iraq but requires the Baghdad government to meet certain political and security targets. If it fails, Democrats want US troops to start leaving.

Republicans say they do not want to force a withdrawal but would be open to putting pressure on Baghdad by withholding more than $5bn (£2.5bn) in foreign aid.

Mr Bush has said he will veto any bill that links troop movements with benchmarks.