WASHINGTON. Oct 9: The US Senate pushed ahead Friday with debate on a historic treaty banning nuclear arms testing even as President Bill Clinton pleaded for more time to avert rejection of the pact, reports

The Senates Republican Party majority attacked the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) that Clinton signed in 1996 as a dangerous subversion of US defence might and vowed to throw it out soon if given the chance.

Clinton, who has lobbied furiously for the past week In an effort to win Senate backing for the treaty, acknowledged that his efforts had failed and called on the Senate to postpone a ratification vote scheduled for Tuesday.

I have asked them to put it off because we don't have the votes." Clinton said in Ottawa

during a joint news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

"It is clear now that the level of opposition to the treaty and the time it would take to craft the necessary safeguards to get the necessary votes are simply not there."

It was a humiliating climb down for Clinton, who had staked a measure of his legacy in management of US foreign policy on Senate ratification of the CTBT. an unprecedented pact the United States was instrumental in crafting.

There was no immediate comment from Senate leaders on Clinton's request and debate oh the Senate floor continued as scheduled.

But key Senate Republicans, notably Majority Leader Trent Lott and Jesse Helms, chairman of the Foreign Relations Com-

mlttee. have said they would shelve the vote if asked to do so in writing by Clinton.

In his remarks with Chretien. the president rejected their demand for a written request for postponement. His spokesman said later however that Clinton had not intended to rule it out.

The Republican proposal, grounded both in domestic politics and deep dislike of Clinton among conservatives, was also conditioned on White House agreement that the CTBT not come up again until Clinton leaves office In 2001.

Clinton, his cabinet and dozens of experts have argued that ratification of the CTBT was an urgent US national security priority that would bolster efforts to halt proliferation of nuclear arms technology around the world.