ABOARD AIR FORCE TWO, Dec 20: US Vice President Dick Cheney cut short his trip to the Middle East and Asia on Tuesday and will return to Washington in case his vote is needed on legislation moving through Congress, a White House official said.

“He’s needed for close votes,” Mr Cheney’s adviser Steve Schmidt told reporters travelling with the vice president. “The vice president is returning to Washington to be on hand in the Senate ... to cast tie-breaking votes if necessary.”

Mr Cheney was to arrive in Washington early on Wednesday, a White House official said on board the airplane as the vice president flew to Oman after visiting Pakistan.

Mr Cheney’s vote may be needed to break a possible tie on budget-cutting legislation backed by the White House. The White House was told by Republican congressional leaders that the vote could be close.

Congress is working to wrap up outstanding business before the holiday break, including the spending bill. The US vice president casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

Mr Cheney, who has a history of heart trouble, will not visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt as planned. —Reuters