Republicans press for impeachment

WASHINGTON, SEPT 30: The Republican majority in the US House of Representatives has pressed ahead with a plan to give a judicial panel the power to pursue a Watergate-style open-ended impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton on sex and perjury charges.

Republican chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee inquiry, Henry Hyde, said yesterday that he believed a preliminary impeachment inquiry against the President was warranted.

quot;I should think there is enough to warrant an inquiry,quot; Hyde said.

However, the Democrats, who hold 45 votes against the Republicans 55, are trying to narrow the inquiry.

The Judiciary Committee will decide whether to recommend to the full US House of Representatives such a preliminary inquiry during a meeting scheduled for Monday next.