Washington - Talks on a first-ever climate change bill were effectively quashed in the US Senate Friday as Democrats failed in an effort to bring the legislation to a vote.

The Climate Security Act, which would have introduced a cap-and- trade system and imposed limits on greenhouse-gas emissions blamed for global warming, has been the subject of a contentious debate among legislators since Monday.

Republicans strongly opposed the bill on the grounds that it would raise already surging petrol prices in the United States, and regularly obstructed discussions with a series of procedural measures throughout the week. On Wednesday, they forced a full reading of the 492-page bill, which took about 10 hours.

The Senate voted 48-36 Friday to end debate on the legislation and bring it to a vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed.

Democrats put on a brave face following the vote, saying the groundwork had been laid for the legislation to come up in a more friendly climate in 2009.

Few supporters had expected the climate bill to pass this year. President George W Bush, who opposes mandatory limits on greenhouse- gas emissions, had threatened to veto the initiative should it make it to his desk.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain both support cap-and-trade efforts. Environmental groups, which mostly approved of the bill, are hoping for better results next year. (dpa)