By a vote of 53-43, senators defeated Friday an amendment sponsored by California Democrat Dianne Feinstein that would have prohibited use of government funds to study the feasibility of the so-called Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, also known as the "bunker-buster" bomb.

The failure of the measure means leading US nuclear research laboratories will in all likelihood receive in fiscal 2006 four million dollars for continued work on the bomb that was interrupted last year under intense international and domestic criticism.

The action came ahead of a Group of Eight industrial nations summit in Scotland, where nuclear proliferation issues are expected to dominate the security agenda.

Senator Feinstein insisted expert data available to her indicated that there could be no such thing as a "clean" nuclear strike and any use of a "bunker buster" would result in massive radioactive contamination and substantial loss of life.

On top of that, she argued, the program will make it harder for the United States to persuade other countries like Iran or North Korea to foreswear their nuclear ambitions.

"In essence, these policies encourage other nations to develop their own nuclear weapons thereby putting American lives and our national security interests at risk," the senator said. "We are telling the world, when it comes to nuclear weapons, do as we say, not as we do."

But the "bunker-buster" program enjoys thestrong support of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who has been personally lobbying for funds for the penetrator and wrote to the energy secretary early this year about the need "to revitalize the nuclear weapons infrastructure."

The four million unsuccessfully targeted by the amendment are contained in a spending bill covering water and energy programs for the fiscal year that begins October 1.

The House of Representatives signaled its intention to restore "bunker-buster" research when it voted in late May to approve a 491-billion-dollar defense authorization bill that includes money for the program.

The study explores the possibility of converting into "bunker busters" two existing warheads - the B61 and B83, according to administration officials.

The B61 is a tactical thermonuclear gravity bomb that can be delivered by strategic as well as tactical aircraft - from B-52 and B-2 bombers to F-16 fighter jets.

The B83 is designed for precision delivery from very low altitudes, most likely by B-2 stealth bombers, military experts said.

Prior to the program's suspension, scientists were working on finding ways to harden the bombs' shells so they can survive penetration through layers of rock, steel and concrete before detonating, the experts said.

However, a study released by the National Academies of Sciences in April said it would take a 300-kiloton bomb to destroy targets buried 200 meters (650 feet) deep underground.

The explosion, the report warned, would have practically the same effects as a surface blast and could kill more than a million people, if it occurs in a densely populated area.

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