US Senate passes bill

The US senate has passed a bill to shield telephone companies that helped in the White House\'s controversial warrantless wiretaps programme.



The bill also grants the US government the power to continue with the telephone surveillance scheme.



The Bush administration faced criticism when details emerged of its programme to monitor the phone calls of foreign targets in the US without warrants.



Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama voted in favour of the measure.



His decision to back the bill drew criticism from some of his supporters, who pointed to past statements in which Mr. Obama pledged to block any bill, which granted immunity to telecommunication companies.



President Bush welcomed the Senate\'s decision to pass the bill, saying he would be signing it into law shortly.



Telephone companies were facing as many as 40 lawsuits for their involvement in the scheme.