U.S. senators delay unveiling of cl

    .s. senators on saturday announced to delay the unveiling of a much-expected climate bill, after a key initiator threatened to withdraw support due to bipartisan disputes.
    democratic senator john kerry said he was postponing the unveiling of the comprehensive energy and climate change legislation scheduled for monday, although he assured the delay would be short.
    "regrettably, external issues have arisen that force us to postpone...", he told reporters.
    kerry's announcement came after republican senator lindsey graham, a key member of the working group in drafting the bill, sent a letter to the democrat-controlled senate, threatening to take away support if the democratics pushed for a debate on immigration before tackling the environmental and energy legislation.
    graham said putting immigration ahead of the legislative priority list would derail efforts to find common ground on climate change, a difficult issue involving critically important economic priorities.
    observers, however, say that debating immigration laws will help the democrats gain the support of the hispanics, a key voting bloc, at the cost of republicans in midterm reelections.
    graham is considered as essential in assuring the passage of the compromise climate bill, as he could woo the support of other republican senators.
    the legislation, which aims to cut emissions of green house gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, is being closely watched by international community. as the world's largest emitter of green house gas, the u.s. has been under pressure to take actions.
    the bill will also touch upon expanding domestic production of oil, natural gas and nuclear power.
    source: xinhua