US President George W Bush has pledged to try to work with rebellious members of the US Congress over the treatment of foreign terrorism suspects.
However, he also warned that 'time is running out' to pass legislation.
Mr Bush spoke at a White House news conference a day after a Senate panel rejected his pleas that new legislation on foreign terrorists allow CIA interrogators to use tough interrogation methods.
Instead, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 15-9 to endorse an alternative bill by Arizona Republican Senator John McCain that would better protect the rights of foreign terrorism suspects.
'We will work with members of both parties to get legislation that works out of the Congress,' Mr Bush said.
But he warned: 'Time is running out. Congress needs to act wisely and promptly so I can sign good legislation.'
The rebel Republicans were backed by Mr Bush's former Secretary of State, Colin Powell. He said the world was beginning to doubt the moral basis of the US war against terrorism.
A full debate of the legislation will take place next week.
The outlines of Mr Bush's plan, which would allow tougher questioning of detainees while protecting US interrogators from being prosecuted for war crimes, have already been approved by a US House of Representatives panel.
