Texas Republicans vote to arrest Democrats stalling redistricting vote

The Democrats facing arrest have fled to block a vote that could sway the balance of power in Washington.

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Republican Governor Greg Abbott ordered state troopers "to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans".

Abbott has also threatened to charge the absent Democrats with bribery if they raised public money to cover the daily fine they incur for boycotting the chamber.

The re-drawn congressional map would create five more Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives in Washington DC, where Republicans hold a slim majority.

At least two-thirds of the 150-member state legislative body in Texas must be present to proceed with the vote. The quorum became unreachable after more than 50 Democratic lawmakers left the state.