The world's media are hoping President Clinton will make a statement about his alleged affair with the former White House aide Monica Lewinsky in Washington on Monday morning.

Journalists are to attend an event that has been organised by Vice President Al Gore. ABC, the American TV network, has learnt that Bill Clinton may decide to attend the event and, if asked, will answer questions about the crisis which threatens his Presidency.

But if he does talk, he is expected only to reiterate his previous denials.

Weekend revelations raise further questions

Meanwhile, the pressure on him is mounting. Archive news footage of him embracing Miss Lewinsky at a White House staff rally is being played on the networks.

Archive footage of Mr Clinton and Liss Lewinsky is being played on the TV networks

Also, reports emerged in Washington on Sunday night that a witness discovered the President and his former aide in what has been described as an "intimate encounter" in the spring of 1996.

In addition, Bill Clinton is said to have admitted to friends that he was "emotionally close" to Miss Lewinsky, and has admitted that in retrospect this could have appeared "odd".

Miss Lewinsky's lawyer, William Ginsburg, has been touring the studios of the TV networks to say his client is willing to reveal all if she is given immunity from prosecution. Mr Ginsburg has been negotiating with the independent prosecutor, Kenneth Starr, who has widened his Whitewater investigation to look into the affair.

Clinton concentrates on his big speech

Although the President stayed quiet over the weekend, his friends and advisors went on the offensive. They have condemned any notion that the President might resign.

They argue that nothing should distract from the annual state of the union address which Mr Clinton will deliver on Tuesday evening.

Mr Clinton and a handful of aides spent several hours over the weekend in the White House theatre, carefully rehearsing the speech. Along with the balanced budget, Clinton will propose big spending increases for schools, child care, medical research and the environment.
 

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