Kavanaugh wins US Senate vote 51-49

Washington DC: The US Senate on Friday narrowly approved moving to a final vote on President Donald Trump's embattled Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh amid continuing controversy over sexual abuse allegations against him.

The Senate voted 51-49 to approve Kavanaugh in the procedural cloture vote, with one Republican, Lisa Murkowski, opposing going forward while one Democrat, Joe Manchin, voted to move ahead.

A final vote on the Republican nominee is planned for Saturday, with the result still in question as another Republican senator, Susan Collins, reserved her stance on final approval.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Friday he is "very proud" that the Senate has cleared the way to hold a vote on Brett Kavanaugh, his controversial nominee to the Supreme Court.

"Very proud of the U.S. Senate for voting 'YES' to advance the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh!" Trump said in a tweet.

Kavanaugh's once near-certain confirmation to the lifelong appointment on the constitutional court is on a knife-edge after bitter debate over sexual assault allegations dating to his school and university days.

On Friday the Senate voted along party lines to remove the last obstacle to holding a decisive vote this weekend.

Earlier, Brett Kavanaugh, US President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, has defended his "emotional" testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, saying it showed his frustration at being wrongly accused of horrible conduct completely contrary to his record and character.