A sudden panic has gripped the White House. The President's hopes that the weakness of Republicans in the mid-term elections would lead to a loss of momentum for impeachment have faded.

Instead, opinion has hardened among the Republican majority on the judiciary Committee.

It means that President is Clinton facing a critical week, with the House Judiciary Committee expected to vote on articles of impeachment by next weekend.

Beyond that, a decisive vote in the full House is too close to call.

The main charge is likely to be lying under oath, easier to sustain than the more technical charge of perjury.

White House lawyers demanded four days in which to put their case that the President committed no high crimes or misdemeanours as demanded by the Constitution; they have been given two.

Their target will be the moderate Republicans who have not yet made up their minds.