The US House of Representatives has voted for the first time to pass legislation that imposes a deadline for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
During today's debate, the Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, described the war as 'grotesque mistake'.
The vote marks the first time Democrats have successfully used their Congressional majorities to confront the White House on the war in Iraq.
The bill authorises an additional $124bn in spending, mainly for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but some domestic spending was also included.
It contains a clause calling for the withdrawal of US combat troops from Iraq by the end of August of next year.
The bill also lays down benchmarks for the Iraqi Government to achieve in order to continue to receive US military support.
Similar legislation will be debated in the Senate next week.
However President George W Bush has already threatened to use his veto powers to stop the bill and it is doubtful if Democrats have the necessary votes to override his veto.
Iraq Deputy PM wounded
The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister has been taken to hospital after being targeted in a double bomb attack near his home in Baghdad.
Salam al-Zubayi received injuries to his stomach and shoulders after being hit by shrapnel in a suicide bombing inside a mosque where he had been praying.
A total of nine people were killed in the attack, including Mr Zubayi's brother and the imam leading the prayers.
The mosque is contained within Mr Zubayi's residential complex.
The 48-year-old, one of Iraq's most senior Sunni politicians, never belonged to the Sunni-dominated Baath party of executed former president Saddam Hussein.
However, many Shia and Sunni politicians have suffered assassination attempts in the violence that has killed tens of thousands of Iraqis in the four years since the US-led invasion.
