The special prosecutor investigating President Bill Clinton's private conduct has ordered former White House intern Monica Lewinsky to provide voice and handwriting samples and fingerprints.

Prosecutor Kenneth Starr ordered the evidence as part of his investigation into an alleged affair between the president and Ms Lewinsky, and a possible cover-up.

President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky have both denied under oath that they ever had a sexual relationship. The special prosecutor's team has spent months trying to prove that they had, and that they lied to lawyers who were investigating charges of sexual harassment against the president.

Special investigator Kenneth Starr

Kenneth Starr's most compelling evidence consists of hours of taped conversation between Ms Lewinsky and a friend, in which the former intern apparently describes the affair in detail.

Mr Starr's request for voice, handwriting and fingerprint samples could be in preparation for summoning Ms Lewinsky to give evidence in secret court hearings.

The samples are expected to be taken in the next few days from Ms. Lewinsky, who remains in California visiting relatives. A family spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said the former intern would co-operate.

If it later emerges that there was a deliberate cover-up, Mr Clinton could then face criminal charges of perjury and the obstruction of justice.

According to BBC Washington correspondent Philippa Thomas, there is little appetite in Congress today for such a personal attack on the President, and it seems unlikely that formal impeachment hearings would follow. But, she says, this is an election year, and the political temperature could easily rise again.
 

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