Harry Reid, U.S. Senate Majority Leader, addresses a news conference at Capitol Hill in Washington, the United States, July 16, 2007. The US senate will start a discussion on the future of the war in Iraq from July 17. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Senate Democrats vowed Monday to stage an all-night debate on the Iraq war, hoping to ratchet up pressure on Republicans to pull troops from Iraq, according to media reports Tuesday.

    Democratic majority leader Harry Reid said the Senate will stay in session all night Tuesday and into Wednesday to debate war policy and a Democratic plan requiring the pull-out of all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of April 2008.

    The rare, round-the-clock session is also intended to punish GOP members for routinely blocking anti-war legislation.

    "Blocking an up-or-down vote ... shows Republicans are more interested in protecting the president than our troops," said Reid.

    "We believe that urgency and passion will be shown by an all-night session," said another top Democratic senator Chuck Schumer.

    The Democrat's key anti-war bill requires a withdrawal of combat troops to start from Iraq within 120 days, to be completed by April 30 next year.

    Despite a number of defections by high-profile Republicans in recent weeks, Democrats are still thought to be unable to pass their end-the-war amendment, because opposition Republicans are insisting on 60 votes for a victory.

    (Agencies)