The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill .

While the measure was approved 305-113 in a bipartisan vote in the House, where Democrats hold a majority, it still needs approval in the Senate, controlled by President Donald Trump's Republicans.

The bill orders the removal from the US Capitol, where Congress is located, of statues of individuals who voluntarily served in the Confederacy.

Trump, meanwhile, has so far strongly opposed taking down historical statues.

During the 1861-65 Civil War several southern states tried to secede and form an independent slaveholding republic.

The measure would also remove the statues of three men who either supported slavery or white supremacy.

Activists and many African-Americans see Confederate battle flags and monuments to Confederates as symbols of racism, while others, especially white southerners, see them as symbols of heritage.

In mid-June the portraits of four senior 19th-century lawmakers who served in the Confederacy were removed from the US Capitol.

The paintings of the men, all former speakers of the House, were taken down at the order of current Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The US public has been increasingly grappling with the country's legacy of racism and slavery since protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer.

(with inputs from agencies)

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill .

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure removing statues of people who served in the Confederacy during the country's bitter 19th century Civil War from Capitol Hill . While the measure was approved 305-113 in a bipartisan vote in the House, where Democrats hold a majority, it still needs approval in the Senate, controlled by President Donald Trump's Republicans. The bill orders the removal from the US Capitol, where Congress is located, of statues of individuals who voluntarily served in the Confederacy. Trump, meanwhile, has so far strongly opposed taking down historical statues. During the 1861-65 Civil War several southern states tried to secede and form an independent slaveholding republic. The measure would also remove the statues of three men who either supported slavery or white supremacy. Activists and many African-Americans see Confederate battle flags and monuments to Confederates as symbols of racism, while others, especially white southerners, see them as symbols of heritage. In mid-June the portraits of four senior 19th-century lawmakers who served in the Confederacy were removed from the US Capitol. The paintings of the men, all former speakers of the House, were taken down at the order of current Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The US public has been increasingly grappling with the country's legacy of racism and slavery since protests swept the nation following the May 25 killing of African American George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. (with inputs from agencies)

US House approves removing Confederate statues from Capitol

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued a de facto ban on displaying the Confederate flag at military installations around the world by authorising only certain flags that promote unity.

Republican President Donald Trump had, however, earlier cited free speech rights in his defense of Americans who fly the Confederate flag.

"The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols," Esper said in the memo.

The Confederate flag was flown by breakaway Southern states that advocated for the continuation of slavery and lost the 1861-65 US Civil War. Flying the flag can be offensive to many Americans, who see it as a reminder of the enslavement of Black Americans and as a symbol of white supremacy.

Supporters say the flag represents the South's heritage and culture and, along with US military bases named after Confederate generals and statues honoring them, serve as memorials to Confederate casualties in the Civil War.

Trump has criticised the desecration and removal of statues of Confederate and other former US leaders to energise his political base.

Trump has also publically opposed renaming US military bases named after Confederate generals, such as Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Bragg in North Carolina, putting him at odds with his military, whose top general has said the matter should be re-examined.

Esper also clashed with Trump last month by opposing the deployment of active-duty troops to address civil unrest across the country following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Beyond the American flag, Esper's memorandum cites a series of flags that can be flown on military installations, including state flags and ones to honour prisoners of war and service members who went missing in action.

Most US military services, including the Marine Corps, have already banned the display of Confederate flags, but Esper's memorandum is department-wide and will affect military installations around the world.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued a de facto ban on displaying the Confederate flag at military installations around the world by authorising only certain flags that promote unity.

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has issued a de facto ban on displaying the Confederate flag at military installations around the world by authorising only certain flags that promote unity. Republican President Donald Trump had, however, earlier cited free speech rights in his defense of Americans who fly the Confederate flag. "The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols," Esper said in the memo. The Confederate flag was flown by breakaway Southern states that advocated for the continuation of slavery and lost the 1861-65 US Civil War. Flying the flag can be offensive to many Americans, who see it as a reminder of the enslavement of Black Americans and as a symbol of white supremacy. Supporters say the flag represents the South's heritage and culture and, along with US military bases named after Confederate generals and statues honoring them, serve as memorials to Confederate casualties in the Civil War. Trump has criticised the desecration and removal of statues of Confederate and other former US leaders to energise his political base. Trump has also publically opposed renaming US military bases named after Confederate generals, such as Fort Hood in Texas and Fort Bragg in North Carolina, putting him at odds with his military, whose top general has said the matter should be re-examined. Esper also clashed with Trump last month by opposing the deployment of active-duty troops to address civil unrest across the country following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, an African American, by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Beyond the American flag, Esper's memorandum cites a series of flags that can be flown on military installations, including state flags and ones to honour prisoners of war and service members who went missing in action. Most US military services, including the Marine Corps, have already banned the display of Confederate flags, but Esper's memorandum is department-wide and will affect military installations around the world.

Pentagon issues ban on Confederate flag at military bases

The lawmakers in&nbsp;Mississippi have passed a resolution paving way to strip the Confederate emblem from the&nbsp;state flag.

The state House and Senate both approved a resolution to suspend legislative deadlines and introduce a bill to have a commission redesign the 126-year-old state flag.&nbsp;

The vote passed in both chambers of the Mississippi legislature: in the House of Representatives by a margin of 84-35, and then in the Senate by 36-14.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mississippi-gears-up-to-remove-confederate-symbol-from-state-flag-309080">Mississippi gears up to remove Confederate symbol from state flag</a>

The resolution calls for the immediate removal of the current flag and for a commission to design a new flag in which all Confederate symbols will be removed and the words "In God We Trust" will be added. The new design will be put to a public vote in November.&nbsp;

Mississippi is the last state in the US to feature the emblem on its flag.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/statue-of-confederate-general-toppled-in-washington-trump-calls-it-a-disgrace-307290">Statue of Confederate general toppled in Washington, Trump calls it a 'disgrace'</a>

The resolution comes as&nbsp;Confederate monuments of all kinds&nbsp;are being banned, removed and transformed across the nation after protests and demonstrations erupted in response to&nbsp;systemic racism against Black Americans.&nbsp;

The Confederate emblem is viewed by many as a racist symbol, with recent protests over the death of George Floyd reigniting debate over its use.

The flag was originally used by the slave-owning states who lost the US Civil War (1860-65).

The lawmakers in Mississippi have passed a resolution paving way to strip the Confederate emblem from the state flag. The state House and Senate both approved a resolution to suspend legislative deadlines and introduce a bill to have a commission redesign the 126-year-old state flag.

The lawmakers in Mississippi have passed a resolution paving way to strip the Confederate emblem from the state flag. The state House and Senate both approved a resolution to suspend legislative deadlines and introduce a bill to have a commission redesign the 126-year-old state flag. The vote passed in both chambers of the Mississippi legislature: in the House of Representatives by a margin of 84-35, and then in the Senate by 36-14. Also read: Mississippi gears up to remove Confederate symbol from state flag The resolution calls for the immediate removal of the current flag and for a commission to design a new flag in which all Confederate symbols will be removed and the words "In God We Trust" will be added. The new design will be put to a public vote in November. Mississippi is the last state in the US to feature the emblem on its flag. Also read: Statue of Confederate general toppled in Washington, Trump calls it a 'disgrace' The resolution comes as Confederate monuments of all kinds are being banned, removed and transformed across the nation after protests and demonstrations erupted in response to systemic racism against Black Americans. The Confederate emblem is viewed by many as a racist symbol, with recent protests over the death of George Floyd reigniting debate over its use. The flag was originally used by the slave-owning states who lost the US Civil War (1860-65).

US: Mississippi lawmakers pass resolution to remove Confederate emblem from state flag