A House Judiciary subcommittee voted on Wednesday to allow congressional leaders to issue subpoenas for President George W. Bush's aides, in their investigation into the firings of eight federal prosecutors by the administration last year.

The House Judiciary subcommittee on commercial and administrative law approved the move by a voice vote, which would compel the president's top aides to testify publicly and under oath about their roles in the firings, which lawmakers said might be politically motivated.

The panel's move does not necessarily mean that subpoenas will be issued. The subpoenas will be issued only when the four White House officials, including Bush's political adviser Karl Rove, do not voluntarily testify under oath in congressional hearings.

On Tuesday, Bush said that he would oppose any attempts to subpoena White House officials in Congress' investigation of the firings.

"I will oppose any attempts to subpoena White House officials," Bush said in a statement.

But he offered that Rove, former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and two others could testify before congressional committees, but only in private, not under oath and without a transcript.

Bush's offer immediately drew fire from Democratic lawmakers.

"Testimony should be on the record and under oath. That's the formula for true accountability," Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said.

Lawmakers, which have conducted investigations into the firings, have called Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign over the firings of the eight federal prosecutors, but so far Gonzales has refused to step down.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the authorization of subpoenas Thursday.

Editor: Yan