Watch the bouncing ball | US Senate blocks gay marriage ban

The US Senate has blocked a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage proposed by President Bush.

President George W Bush had backed the ban, saying marriage between a man and a woman was the most fundamental institution of civilization. (?!!)

But Democrats accuse Mr Bush of cynically promoting an issue which appeared to have little chance of Congressional approval to appeal to the Republicans' conservative base ahead of November's mid-term elections.