Gonzales to face confidence vote

The no-confidence vote is expected some time next week

Leading US Democratic senators say they will seek a vote of no-confidence in US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over his running of the Justice Department.

The vote, expected next week, comes amid a political row over the sacking of eight federal prosecutors.

The affair is being investigated by a Senate committee. The White House denies the firings were politically motivated and cites poor performance.

Analysts say the new move puts more pressure on Mr Gonzales to resign.

His position had been made more difficult by the resignation of his deputy, Paul McNulty, earlier this week.

However, Mr Gonzales would not necessarily be forced out of his job if he lost the no-confidence vote.

The attorney-general is appointed or dismissed by the president.

'Time has come'

Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein said Mr Gonzales was now too weak to lead the department.

"It seems the only person who has confidence in the attorney general is President Bush," Mr Schumer said.

Ms Feinstein added: "I think the time has come for the Senate to express its will. We lack confidence in the attorney general."

A number of Republicans have also expressed doubt about Mr Gonzales' position.

The attorney general retains the support of President George W Bush, however.

A White House spokesman dismissed the no-confidence vote as "a meaningless political act" and said Mr Gonzales still had "the full confidence of the president".

Wiretapping row

Adding to the pressure on Mr Gonzales this week was the testimony given by former Deputy Attorney General James Comey to the Senate panel investigating the prosecutors' dismissals.

Mr Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee that in 2004, while White House counsel, Mr Gonzales had been to the hospital bed of then Attorney General John Ashcroft to try to persuade him to reauthorise a controversial domestic spying programme.

Mr Ashcroft, who was seriously ill in intensive care, refused despite the Bush administration's pressure because he had reservations about the legality of the warrantless wiretapping.

The White House decided to go ahead with it anyway - but was forced to reconsider when Mr Ashcroft, Mr Comey and FBI chief Robert Mueller threatened to resign.

Mr Bush ordered changes to the programme to meet the Justice Department's concerns.

Mr Comey's testimony confirmed for the first time that the Justice Department had considered the wiretapping programme illegal.

Democrats said Mr Comey's account demonstrated what they claim is Mr Gonzales' tendency to put loyalty to Mr Bush first.

The White House did not comment directly on Mr Comey's testimony but spokesman Tony Snow said the wiretapping programme was a vital tool in ensuring the nation's security.