WASHINGTON, March 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday endorsed a March 31, 2008, target date for withdrawing American combat troops from Iraq, moving Congress a step closer to a showdown with President George W. Bush over the war.

By a vote of 50-48, the Senate defeated an amendment that would have stricken the withdrawal language from a $121.6 billion bill that mostly would fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A final vote on the bill is expected later this week.

Bush has promised to veto any legislation with dates for withdrawing from Iraq, including a measure passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday.

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