Republicans criticise Bush on Iraq

A senior Republican senator has called for US troop withdrawals from Iraq, the second time George Bush has faced criticism of his Iraq strategy this week from within his own party.

George Voinovich of Ohio sent Bush a letter on Tuesday saying he "must begin to develop a comprehensive plan for our gradual military disengagement from Iraq".

The letter came a day after Richard Lugar of Indiana, the senior Republican on the senate foreign relations committee, said the US leader's "surge" policy of sending more troops was not working.

Voinovich is also a member of the committee which is set to hear testimony on Iraq on Wednesday.