posted March 08, 2006 05:04 PM              

Jerry Lewis, who chairs the powerful House of Representatives appropriations committee, is introducing emergency legislation to halt the takeover.

The move puts the president in direct conflict with his own party in Congress and has been called a slap in the face.

Lawmakers say they are concerned about the security implications of the deal.

Dubai Ports World, a state-owned company based in the United Arab Emirates, is taking control of P&O, which currently runs six US ports from New York to New Orleans.

The deal is currently in limbo while the US conducts a review.

Americans opposed

Mr Bush has strongly backed the $6.85bn (£3.94bn) deal, saying he would veto any law designed to block it.

But Mr Lewis - in theory, at least, one of the president's key supporters - is making his legislation part of an emergency spending bill that provides extra funds for hurricane disaster relief and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We want to make sure that the security of our ports is in America's hands," Rep Lewis, a California Republican, said.

Opinion polls have shown an overwhelming majority of Americans think the White House is wrong to back the deal.

With an election due in November and the popularity of both the president and Congress low, some Republicans apparently fear that Democrats could use the deal against them.

"It is ludicrous to spend billions of dollars on Homeland Security and wilfully trade six doorways to the very thing we are attempting to secure"
Melvin Moore, Baltimore, USA

"We're not going to let the Democrats get to the right of us on national security," Rep Peter King, who chairs the homeland security committee, said recently.

Congress is expected to debate his measure on Wednesday.

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

Congressional leaders reportedly believe they would have enough votes to override a presidential veto.