WASHINGTON, March 9: A powerful committee of the US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to block a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of six US port operations.

The House Appropriations Committee voted on Wednesday evening by 62 votes to two for the amendment.

The entire House is expected to vote on the issue next week while Democrats clamoured for a similar vote in the Senate.

The anti-establishment vote in a House dominated by the ruling Republicans also spells troubles for the Bush administration as it prepares for midterm congressional elections due in November.

The legislation bars Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company based in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at US ports.

The landslide vote was the strongest signal yet that more than three weeks of White House efforts to stunt congressional opposition to the deal have not been successful.

President Bush has strongly backed the $6.85bn deal, saying repeatedly that he would veto any law designed to block it.

President Bush has never vetoed a law in more than five years in office.