US Senate block Iraq War bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks during a news conference in the Capitol in Washington Nov.13, 2007. The U.S. Senate on Friday blocked a bill to allocate 50 billion U.S. dollars to the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with a requirement for troop withdrawal from Iraq. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

In the US Senate Republicans have blocked a 50 billion dollar Iraq War bill, pointing to the bill's troop pullout plan.

The 53-45 vote was 15 votes short of the 60 needed to advance. Republicans accused Democrats of being irresponsible by downsizing President George Bush's request for 196 billion dollars, and for attaching unacceptable requirements.

U.S. soldiers are seen during a patrol in the Muhalla 832 Mechanik neighbourhood in Baghdad November 12, 2007. The U.S. Senate on Friday blocked a bill to allocate 50 billion U.S. dollars to the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with a requirement for troop withdrawal from Iraq. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The Democrat sponsored bill, passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, requires the government to start withdrawing troops from Iraq in 30 days and end combat by December 2008.

Editor:Xiong Q