WASHINGTON - Arizona Rep. John Shadegg entered the race for House majority leader Friday, saying he would offer real, substantive ethics reforms in the wake of Republican scandals.

House and Senate Democrats chose leaders Thursday who are likely to continue to push the same priorities as before -- but perhaps with a bit more success because of increased numbers.

WASHINGTON - The Republican revolt against President Bush’s war strategy accelerated Friday as two of the party’s most respected voices on national security proposed legislation envisioning a major realignment of U.S. troops in Iraq starting as early as Jan. 1.

A smaller Republican majority in the Senate ousted incumbent president Steve Pierce of Prescott on Wednesday, replacing him with Andy Biggs from Gilbert.

WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom DeLay, the defiant face of a conservative revolution in Congress, stepped down as House majority leader on Saturday under pressure from Republicans staggered by an election-year corruption scandal.

WASHINGTON - House Republican leaders scuttled a vote Thursday on a $51 billion budget-cut package in the face of a revolt by moderate lawmakers over cuts to Medicaid, food stamp and student loan programs.

It became painfully clear on Wednesday that House leadership is the weak link in Arizona government. The evidence is a budget proposal that would send Arizona lurching backward in the crucial areas of early childhood care and education, Child Protective Services and higher education.

LONDON - In a political blow to Prime Minister Tony Blair, British lawmakers on Wednesday rejected tough anti-terrorism legislation that would have allowed suspects to be detained for 90 days without charge. The House of Commons vote was the first major defeat of Blair's premiership and raises serious questions about his grip on power.

PRETORIA, South Africa - South African elections results released Saturday show the African National Congress might have fallen short of winning its cherished two-thirds parliamentary majority. But the tally affirmed the ruling party's overall victory and set the stage for the controversial Jacob Zuma rise to the presidency.

WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, dealing a defeat to President Bush and Republicans who hope to use the measure to energize conservative voters on Election Day.

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Israel and Hezbollah fought bloody ground battles and exchanged fierce air and missile strikes Friday - including bombing raids that severed Lebanon's last major supply link with Syria and the outside world, and the guerrillas' deepest rocket attack inside Israel to date.

Legislative leaders said Thursday they have agreed on a tentative $10.6 billion state budget, but are remaining quiet about many of the details.

PHOENIX - Republican legislative leaders and Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano agreed Thursday on a budget proposal to be submitted to rank-and-file lawmakers.

WASHINGTON - Career home run leader Hank Aaron and four other baseball Hall of Famers planned to accompany commissioner Bud Selig on his latest trip to Capitol Hill to discuss steroids Wednesday.

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats picked two women for senior posts Tuesday, and their choice as majority leader, Sen. Harry Reid, said a top priority is getting a new secretary of defense confirmed. Watch video coverage

May 18, 2005

WASHINGTON - The two top Republicans in Congress, confronted with internal party divisions as well as large public demonstrations, said Tuesday they intend to pass immigration legislation that does not subject illegal immigrants to prosecution as felons.

CAIRO, Egypt - Reaching out to the Sunni Arab community, Iraqi leaders called for a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces and said Iraq's opposition had a "legitimate right" of resistance.

Former House Speaker Jeff Groscost, whose political fortunes rose and fell through his ability to master the legislative process, died Friday of heart failure at his Mesa home.

BAGHDAD - Vice President Dick Cheney and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki acknowledged problems in the pace of reducing violence in Iraq on Wednesday, but both pledged their governments would continue working together toward a solution.

PHOENIX - Republican legislative leaders released a proposed state budget Thursday that would reduce income and property taxes over two years and provide new spending for education, border security and highway construction.