Senate Republicans have blocked legislation that would have repealed the military's policy of "don't ask, don't tell" and allowed gay troops to serve openly.

Democrats failed Thursday to cinch a procedural deal with Republicans in the waning days of the lame-duck session. The 57-40 test vote fell three votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

The vote ends months of political wrangling on the bill and makes congressional action on the repeal provision unlikely any time soon.

The 1993 law bans gay troops from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation. A repeal provision was included in a broader defense policy bill and passed last spring in the House.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A last-ditch effort in Congress to lift the military's ban on openly gay troops appears to be headed for defeat.

Senate Democrats have apparently failed to cinch a procedural deal with Republicans in the waning days of the lame-duck session. A procedural vote in the Senate is expected to fall short of the goal of advancing the measure.

A 'no' vote would end months of political wrangling on the bill and kill the chance of congressional action on the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy any time soon.

The 1993 law bans gay troops from publicly acknowledging their sexual orientation. A repeal provision was included in a broader defense policy bill and passed last spring in the House.