US Senate passes Bush-backed spy bill

WASHINGTON, Aug 4 (Reuters) The Democratic-led US Senate, amid warnings of further attacks on the United States, approved a bill which will allow President George W Bush to maintain his controversial domestic spying program.

On a vote of 60-28, the Senate sent the measure to the Democratic-led US House of Representatives for consideration as early as today as lawmakers push to begin a monthlong recess.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell said earlier he needed the legislation ''in order to protect the nation from attacks that are being planned today to inflict mass casualties on the United States.'' The Senate bill approved yesteday was needed, congressional aides said, because of restrictions recently imposed by a secret court on the ability of US spy agencies to intercept telephone calls and e-mails of suspected terrorists overseas.

Offered by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, no relation to the national intelligence director, the bill would allow the administration to continue the warrantless surveillance but require it to describe to a secret federal court the procedures it uses in targeting foreign suspects.

Reuters RN GC0834