Clinton not to bow out

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (PTI) — Adopting a tough posture, US President Bill Clinton has refused to resign after the House of Representatives voted for his impeachment on two charges in the Monica Lewinsky affair, saying he would continue to "work until the last hour of the last day of my term".

Speaking at the White House yesterday with the First Lady Hillary and a number of Democrats by his side, Mr Clinton also demanded a bipartisan process in the Senate where his impeachment issue will now be debated.

"I intend to continue to do my work until the last hour of the last day of my term," said the President after the Democrat-dominated Lower House voted 228 to 206 for his impeachment yesterday for obstruction of justice and perjury in the Lewinsky affair.

The House of Representatives, however, rejected the two other charges — that Mr Clinton lied in a deposition of the Paula Jones sexual harassment case and abused his power by falsely answering queries posed by judicial panel chief Henry Hyde.

"I want the American people to know today that I am still committed to working with people of good faith and goodwill of both parties to do what’s best for our country to bring our nation together, to lift our people up, to move us all forward together," said the President.

The House’s decision set in motion the process of a possible long drawn out trial for Mr Clinton’s removal by Senate which could last months.

However, there are chances of an agreement leading to the censure of the President instead of his removal as the Republicans would not have the necessary two-thirds majority to remove him except in the unlikely event of large defection from Democrats’ ranks.

Pinning hopes on the Senate, Mr Clinton called for a "reasonable, bipartisan and proportionate" response to his transgressions from the Upper House which has the power to remove him after a trial on the charges brought by the Lower House.

Mr Clinton, if impeached, would be the second president in the US history and first elected President to meet the fate. Andrews Johnson, impeached more than a century ago, was not an elected President as he had taken over following assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Some reports said the White House might try to win over sufficient number of Republicans to reject the holding of the trial at the very outset which would require simple majority. But political analysts say this might be a disastrous course to follow.

In the meantime Hillary Rodham Clinton has chosen personal words, "I love and care deeply about my husband" as she strove to salvage his presidency and the legacy of their shared tenure in the White House, an AP report said.

The First Lady made an emotional trip to Capitol Hill yesterday in the eerily quiet hour before the House was gavelled to order. She pinned to her shoulder a golden American eagle brooch, symbol of strength and endurance.

Accompanied by White House Chief of Staff John Podesta, she held court in a caucus of House Democrats, giving the friendly assembly a glimpse into her very private marriage.

However, lawmakers who crowded the ornate, third-floor caucus room of the building, described Ms Clinton’s remarks as mostly reflective and without rancour. The meeting was closed to reporters.

The First Lady talked about her "profound love and support" for Mr Clinton. And, she talked a bit about why, said Chief Deputy Democratic Whip Chet Edwards.

LONDON (AFP): British Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to comment on the vote by the US Congress to impeach Mr Clinton, his ally in the Gulf crisis.

A Downing Street spokesman said yesterday the premier did not wish to comment, and referred to remarks at a press conference yesterday on the crisis over Iraq.

"I don’t want to comment on the impeachment proceedings," he said. "It’s not right for me to do so."