July 18 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Republicans, after an all- night debate, blocked a proposal to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, prompting Democrats to put off consideration of more measures to end the war.

The proposal, requiring most troops to be withdrawn by April 30, 2008, fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to end debate and move to final consideration. It was the second time in a week that Republicans blocked a Democratic-backed plan aimed at altering President George W. Bush's war strategy.

``Because Republicans continue to block votes on important amendments to the defense authorization bill, we can make no further progress on Iraq and this bill at this time,'' said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

The action ended a rare all-night session scheduled by Democrats that featured pre-dawn votes and cots set up near the Senate for tired lawmakers.

Democrats have tried for months to pass legislation that would force Bush to withdraw U.S. troops. They have been stymied by opposition in the Senate, where Democrats have only a 51-49 majority, and Republicans can use Senate rules to demand that controversial issues get 60 votes to pass. Republicans have increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with progress in the war, though most have stopped short of voting to force a change.

Democrats said the more than 50 votes for the withdrawal proposal today showed progress from last year, when a similar non-binding proposal received only 39 votes.

``It goes vote by vote until we get to 60,'' said Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat.

`It Will Return'

``This is far from the end of this debate,'' said Richard Durbin, the Senate's no. 2 Democrat. ``This will come back. It will return again and again.''

Republicans criticized the decision to halt action on the annual defense policy legislation, which includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for troops, military equipment upgrades and new programs for wounded veterans.

``We have placed the care of our wounded veterans at a lower priority than a debate over Iraq,'' said Senator John McCain of Arizona. ``We are abandoning the men and woman in the military.''

The withdrawal plan, proposed by Democratic senators Carl Levin of Michigan and Jack Reed of Rhode Island, would have required U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq within 120 days of the measure's adoption. Most troops would have to leave by April 30, except for those training Iraqi troops or engaged in counter-terrorism operations.

Rice on Hill

Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said the proposal ``calls for the withdrawal of our troops and the Iraqis to take more responsibility before the Iraqis are capable of defending themselves.''

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was on Capitol Hill today and met with House Republican Leader John Boehner and Republican Senators John Warner of Virginia and Gordon Smith of Oregon. She also met with Senate Democrat Joe Biden, the chairman of the Foreign Relations panel.

``These were individual meetings in which they were expected to discuss Iraq, additional issues in the Middle East and other national security concerns,'' State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

Lawmakers spent 20 hours debating Iraq, beginning yesterday at 3 p.m. Washington time, and Reid called procedural votes at midnight and 5 a.m. to draw senators back to the chamber.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the overnight ``theatrics'' didn't change any votes.

``We have just seen a procedure in the last 24 hours that was a colossal waste of time,'' said Senator Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican.

Four Republicans

Four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to end debate on the amendment: Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and Gordon Smith of Oregon. Connecticut Independent Joe Lieberman voted against limiting debate, as did Reid, who opposed it for procedural reasons so he could return to the measure in the future.

Reid declined to say when he might bring up Iraq-related proposals again or what the measures might be.

``I'm not tipping my mitt,'' he told reporters after the vote. ``We have a lot of other arrows in our quiver, and our quiver is filled with the wishes of the American people.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 18, 2007 14:48 EDT