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The new pledges, timed to coincide with the opening in Thailand of the six-day 15th International AIDS Conference, came as a new opinion poll showed the Massachusetts senator widening his lead over President George W. Bush (news - web sites). Kerry welcomed the upcoming conference and promised to work with US international partners, faith-based and non-governmental organizations to strengthen the world's capacity for a sustained response to the AIDS epidemic. But in his statement, he also made a commitment that is likely to draw more fire from conservative groups insisting on tighter immigration requirements. "I will work with Congress to...

WASHINGTON -- The US Senate dealt President Clinton his first legislative defeat yesterday, voting to write into law the Bush administration's policy prohibiting people infected with the AIDS virus from immigrating to the United States. The defeat came despite Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's spirited battle in defense of the president's commitment to lift the prohibition. The Senate voted, 76-23, to prevent people infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, from immigrating, after defeating by a 56-42 vote an amendment by Kennedy that would have kept current federal policy in place for 90 days but left Clinton free to change...

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) promised to lift a ban on immigration to the United Stated by people with AIDS (news - web sites) and vowed to double US assistance to a worldwide campaign to combat the deadly and contagious disease. The new pledges, timed to coincide with the opening in Thailand of the six-day 15th International AIDS Conference, came as a new opinion poll showed the Massachusetts senator widening his lead over President George W. Bush (news - web sites). Kerry welcomed the upcoming conference and promised to work with US...