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n a 51-49 vote, the Senate Wednesday endorsed President Bush’s plan to drill for oil in protected environmental areas in Alaska, news services reported.

The vote was a victory for pro-business forces in the new Congress, the Wall Street Journal reported. Voting with the majority were seven freshmen Republican Senators.

Environmental interests plan to fight the measure, an environmental group spokesman told the Journal.

The Journal said large oil companies would be interested in exploring for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge if Congress lifted the protections.

Republicans have tried for more than two decades to open ANWR to oil exploration, Reuters reported.

Senate moderates have blocked plans by the Bush administration over the past four years to open the area to oil drilling, Reuters said.