WASHINGTON, March 20: A senior lawmaker on Sunday called for an emergency session of the US Congress to consider President Barack Obama's decision to commit American troops in Libya without congressional approval. In a letter to House speaker John Boehner, Congresswoman Diana DeGette, a Democrat, raised several constitutional issues that she said were ignored.“I am concerned by President Obama's decision to commit US forces in Libya without involving Congress. This action may require substantial US resources,” she wrote.

“While there is no question the Qadhafi regime is brutalising the people of Libya, launching military action against another nation requires Congress be fully informed so we can exercise our Constitutional authority,” she said. “I therefore call on Speaker Boehner to call an emergency session, returning members to Washington, so the president may address a joint session of Congress and be given the opportunity to make the case for war,” she said.

Senator Richard Lugar, a Republican, too expressed doubts about the US' involvement in Libya. “We are not declaring war at this point,” said Mr Lugar. “We really have not discovered who it is in Libya we are trying to support. We had better get this straight from the beginning,” he said, or we are going to end up in a situation “where war lingers on”. But other Republicans and independents supported Mr Obama, although they too said the president should have acted earlier.

Republican John McCain and independent Joseph Lieberman said President Obama waited too long to act in Libya.

“It's late, but it's not too late,” said Senator Joe Lieberman, an independent, “if we act quickly together”.

“I regret that we didn't act much more quickly,” said Republican Senator John McCain, but “that's not the point now. The point now is, let's get behind this effort, do everything we can to support it.”