Bush aide back before grand jury

Mr Rove was not subpoenaed by the special prosecutor

Top White House aide Karl Rove has made a fifth appearance before a grand jury probing the leak of a CIA agent's identity, sources say.

Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is heading the probe into how the identity of Valerie Plame was revealed.

Another official, Lewis Libby, has been charged with perjury and obstructing justice. He has resigned pending trial.

Ms Plame's name appeared in the media shortly after her husband accused the Bush administration over Iraq.

Former US Ambassador Joseph Wilson said they had twisted intelligence to justify going to war in Iraq.

Legal problems

Mr Libby, who was chief-of-staff to Vice-President Dick Cheney at the time, and Mr Rove, in the presidential office, both talked to reporters around that time, but both deny having any hand in the leak.

Mr Rove has not been charged, but is expected to face further questioning about his conversations with reporters.

The charges against Mr Libby stem from his conduct during the inquiry, rather than from the leak itself.

Sources say Mr Rove is returning voluntarily to the grand jury, at the request of Mr Fitzgerald.

Last week Mr Rove gave up his role in shaping policy in the Bush administration, and will focus instead on election strategy in mid-term elections in November.