Congress approves election cash curbs

The United States Senate has approved a bill tightening the rules on the funding of election campaigns and the use of television advertising.

The final congressional approval clears the way for President George W Bush to sign it into law.

Opponents say they will mount a legal challenge to the largely Democrat-backed bill on the grounds that it would violate constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech.

The new legislation would outlaw unregulated donations to national political parties and would also limit such contributions to state and local political parties.

It would also restrict broadcast advertisements by outside groups shortly before elections.