Clinton plea for Libya mission cash

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has pleaded with Democrats in Congress to continue US military involvement in the Nato-led operation.

Her plea came as lawmakers from both parties mounted their fiercest challenge to the president's authority to conduct such military actions.

Defiant Republican leaders pushed toward a crucial vote to cut off funds for hostilities.

Just hours after bluntly posing the question, "Whose side are you on?" - Muammar Gaddafi or the Libyan people, Clinton met rank-and-file Democrats to explain the mission and the stakes if the House votes to prohibit funds.

"The issue ... was whether or not we were going to abandon what is an effort that our allies have made at the request of the United Nations, the Arab League and others to intervene and to support our allies in this effort," Rep Steny Hoyer, the No 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives, said following the session.

"I agree with her strongly that ... to send any signal today that Congress is not supportive of the effort to involve itself in a humanitarian effort at the request of a broad international coalition would be a mistake."

House Republicans and Democrats are furious with President Barack Obama for failing to seek congressional authorisation for the three-month-old war against Libya, as required under the War Powers Resolution.

The 1973 law, often ignored by Republican and Democratic presidents, says the commander in chief must seek congressional consent within 60 days. That deadline has long passed.

Obama stirred congressional unrest last week when he told lawmakers he did not need authorisation because the operation was not full-blown hostilities.

Nato commands the operation, but the United States still plays a significant support role that includes aerial refuelling of warplanes and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance work as well as drone attacks and bombings.

Reflecting the widespread dissatisfaction, the Republican leader of the House, Speaker John Boehner, said the chamber will vote today on two measures: a resolution to authorise the operation and legislation that would cut off funds for hostilities such as Predator drone attacks and airstrikes.

The bill would make an exception for search and rescue efforts, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, aerial refuelling and operational planning to continue the Nato effort.

"I don't want to do anything that would undermine Nato or to send a signal to our allies around the world that we are not going to be engaged," Mr Boehner told reporters.