Asserting that President George W Bush was not a "king," a group of US soldiers, including a marine stationed in the Persian Gulf, their parents and six members of Congress have filed a suit to block any invasion of Iraq unless the US Congress issues an outright declaration of war.

''The President is not a king,'' said John C Bonifaz, the lead attorney in the lawsuit filed in US District Court in
Boston.

''He does not have the power to wage war against another country" without a declaration of war from Congress, he was
quoted as saying by Boston Globe on Saturday.

Both Bush and Secretary of Defence Donald H Rumsfeld are named as defendants in the suit filed on Thursday, which asks a federal judge to issue an injunction barring a war in Iraq.

US District Judge Joseph L Tauro scheduled a hearing for next Thursday.

The paper said the White House did not express any major concern about the lawsuit. Spokesman Ken Lisaius
said that the Constitution granted the necessary authority to the president in his role as commander in chief.

''Furthermore, Congress has spoken on this matter," he said.

Congress passed a resolution in October authorising Bush to use force in Iraq, but the plaintiffs insist US
Constitution required an outright Congressional declaration of war.

The six members of Congress who have joined the lawsuit are: John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat; Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat; Jesse Jackson Jr., an Illinois Democrat; Jim McDermott, a Washington Democrat; Jose S errano, a New York Democrat, and Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat.