Senators from both parties said in television talks shows over the Christmas holiday break that the process, due to start early in January, should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

There is general agreement that the most likely outcome is a tough censure resolution against the president for his behaviour in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

But Republican senators, who hold 55 of the chamber's 100 seats, said they were obliged to begin the trial on the two charges of perjury and obstruction of justice laid down by the House of Representatives.

Constitutional "duty"

"The Senate has a responsibility under the Constitution to try the impeachment," said Senator John Ashcroft of Missouri, a member of the Judiciary Committee.

Another Senate Republican, Mitch McConnell, went further: "We ought to vote on these articles of impeachment, and then that is the appropriate time to consider a censure," he told Fox television.

"Assuming neither of those articles pass, which is what's widely expected will be the outcome ... you sit down and you negotiate the censure alternative."

Internal surveys to see whether two-thirds of the Senate would vote for removal will not begin until after the trial opens, said Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch.

Without the 67 votes needed, Senate leaders then would "come up with the strongest censure resolution there is," Senator Hatch said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

Mr Clinton's Democrats are in a minority in the 100-member Senate but have enough votes to keep the president in office because a two-thirds majority of senators is required to convict him.