The president is facing trial in the Senate after being impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. But the Senate remains divided along party lines on how to handle Mr Clinton's case.

"I do hope that the United States Senate will rise to this moment, as it so often does, to be the voice of reason, deliberation and healing that America needs," Mr Gore said.

"I hope the Senate will, therefore, forge a fair bipartisan compromise to end this matter promptly and to end it in a way that will respect the will and the wisdom of the American people," he added.

Former presidents back censure

Earlier, former US presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter urged the Senate to censure President Clinton, rather than send him to trial.

Washington correspondent Paul Reynolds on the former presidents' comments

In an opinion piece in the New York Times, the former presidents' article said impeachment is permanent and the process has already brought "profound disgrace" to President Bill Clinton.

"Before the senators make history, we hope they will first turn to history for help in devising what would be, in effect, a unique punishment for a unique set of offences," they wrote.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart: an "eloquent" contribution

Mr Ford and Mr Carter said a Senate resolution of censure should require that Mr Clinton acknowledge he did not tell the truth under oath, but also stipulate that such an admission could not be used against him in any future criminal prosecution.

A censure would allow Mr Clinton to keep the presidency and would be a first step, according to his predecessors, towards healing a "grievous and deepening" national wound.

Mr Clinton on Saturday became only the second president in American history to be impeached. The House of Representatives' vote split down party lines.

Clinton resilient

President Clinton's ratings have risen again. Several polls taken this weekend show his job approval rating nearing a whopping 75%.

An NBC News poll showed 72% approved of Mr Clinton's handling of the presidency, a rise of four points from Tuesday.

The New York Times and CBS News showed that 64% of Americans support a censure deal. Sixty-eight per cent believe the Senate should not remove Mr Clinton from office.

Mr Clinton is facing charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

A Senate trial would be presided over by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist. The 100-member Senate would serve as the jury, with a two-thirds majority needed to convict the president and remove him from office.

To secure such a majority, Senate Republicans would have to attract at least 12 Democrats.

However, the BBC diplomatic correspondent says the most likely outcome is a vote largely along party lines and an even more damaged president, who somehow hangs on.