THE GULF WAR: The Diplomatic Front : In Washington

Leaders of CONGRESS called for continued vigorous prosecution of the air war against Iraq. House Speaker Thomas Foley said any bombing pause would give Saddam Hussein an opening for “schemes and maneuvers” to prolong the conflict. Sen. Sam Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also called for the U.S. to keep the pressure on. The Iraqis “are being pounded very heavily, and I think we ought to keep that pounding up and hope that we can prevail in the shortest time possible,” Nunn said. PRESIDENT BUSH, at his Camp David retreat, was briefed on the latest war developments. He also attended church and had plans to look in on the NFL playoff games on television.