KEY POINTS:
WASHINGTON - Nancy Pelosi, set to become United States Speaker, is embroiled in a second bitter intra-party battle before she even takes office in January - this time with another powerful Californian congresswoman.
Last week, Pelosi suffered a stinging defeat when her chosen candidate for House majority leader was resoundingly defeated. Now she is trying to deny Jane Harman, her one-time friend, the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee.
Normally, Harman, the most senior Democrat on the panel, would take charge automatically. Pelosi has untrammelled authority to choose committee chairs and favours the outgoing panel's second-ranking Democrat, Alcee Hastings.
But Pelosi's inept handling of the election for majority leader has weakened her position. Steny Hoyer's easy 149-86 vote victory over Pelosi's pick, John Murtha, ended up casting doubt on her command of her own troops.
- INDEPENDENT
