18 November 2005 -- U.S. President George W. Bush is facing increasing criticism over his handling of the war in Iraq.
One of the most hawkish senior Democratic leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives, John Murtha, has now called for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Murtha made the statement at a press conference in Washington on 17 November.
In response, the White House described itself as "baffled" by Murtha's demand.
The decorated Vietnam war veteran, originally voted in favor of the Iraq war.
His remarks followed a string of sharp attacks by Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney against critics of their Iraq policy and the handling of pre-war intelligence.
(AP/Reuters)