U.S. court postpones Bush aides' testimony on firing of prosecutors

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. appeals court Monday postponed congressional testimony by former and current White House aides on the administration's firing of nine federal prosecutors two year ago.

The ruling by the court agreed with the Bush administration's assertion that both former White House counsel Harriet Miers and chief of staff Josh Bolten shouldn't have to testify before the Congress until the court rules on the merits of the case.

It also said the issue may not be resolved until next year after a new Congress is sworn in.

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Miers and is seeking to force Bolten to turn over documents pertaining to the firings.

Congressional investigators are trying to determine whether top aides of President George W. Bush orchestrated the Justice Department's firings of nine prosecutors in 2006 to spur prosecution of Democrats or protect Republicans.

The ruling means the judicial battle over the firings of prosecutors between the White House and the Congress won't be solved in near term.