WASHINGTON -- Democratic leaders in Congress reportedly plan to use a series of Iraq-related votes this summer to apply pressure on Republicans to abandon the White House.

The Democratic leaders, who fell short in recent legislative attempts to force a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, are expected to use the tactics to mend fences with Iraq war opponents who criticized the leaders' decision last month to abandon a withdrawal timeline, The Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

"The debate on Iraq will continue," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

While Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill pressure Republicans on Iraq, the GOP is also expected to get pressure from anti-war organizations in the form of challenges to incumbents in their home states, the newspaper said.

"Our job is to go into the congressional districts of members and create a political environment that is toxic," said Tom Matzzie of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a leading coalition against the war. "The public is there already. It is really about focusing their anger."

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