Deadlocked in a political impasse over a war funding bill, US President George W. Bush and Democrats failed on Wednesday to agree on how to conduct discussions on the issue.
Bush insisted that Democratic leaders should come to the White House next Wednesday to talk, but there will be no negotiation on his position on the bill.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats want him to meet Friday on Capitol Hill.
Neither side showed signs of any backing down.
"It can't be his (Bush's ) way or no way," said Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
Dana Perino, White House spokeswoman, made it clear that Bush has no plans of going to Capitol Hill.
Both the House and Senate have attached language to legislation calling for US combat troops to leave Iraq in 2008 -- the House by the end of August, the Senate by March of that year.
But Bush said he will not accept any bill that includes a timeline for withdrawal.
If he vetoes the bill, which looks certain, the congress will need a two-third majority to overthrow the veto. Otherwise, the congress will have to draft a new funding bill and send to Bush again.
With neither side willing to back down, there seems no way out of the impasse at the moment.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2007)
