Wednesday's newspapers echoed public sentiment that the inquiry be brought to a swift end, accusing the Republicans of party-political motives in pursuing action against the president.

"The House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry has spun out of control," the Washington Post wrote in an editorial.

The Denver Post wrote: "The belated decision of the House Judiciary Committee to widen its probe of President Clinton to include possible 1996 violations of campaign-finance laws seems more partisan than anything else the committee has done."

'Chaotic'

The press, Democrats and even some Republicans described the inquiry as unfocused, chaotic and lacking leadership.

Republicans had hoped Tuesday's hearing would emphasise the seriousness of accusations of perjury being brought against Mr Clinton. Instead, commentators thought the hearings adopted an excessively moralistic tone.

The press seemed to agree with Democrats that the hearing and the effort to expand the investigation signalled desperation and disorganisation among Republicans.

In a front page analysis, Washington Post political writers Dan Balz and John F Harris wrote that moves to expand the inquiry may cost Republicans support within their own party.

'Lack of evidence'

The Washington Post seemed unconvinced that the expanded inquiry would uncover any fresh evidence against the president: "The campaign finance issue has been investigated by a Senate committee, a House committee and a Justice Department task force over the past two years. None of these investigations has developed evidence of what any reasonable person could deem an impeachable offence."

But the press saved some criticism for the president and his party. "Clinton's legalistic answers last week to 81 questions from the committee infuriated Republicans and seemed to embolden committee members to widen their inquiry," the Washington Post said.

'Caricature'

The paper added that "the behaviour of both parties on the panel has become a kind of caricature."

According to the Denver Post, the expanded investigation "may well produce some new embarrassment for Clinton, but we cannot believe it will result in the filing of a credible article of impeachment."

The Kansas City Star predicted the proceedings would now drag on longer than originally thought: "It's hard to reconcile this new investigative interest with Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde's declaration that he intends to conclude the impeachment hearings before the end of the year."