US Senate approves spy bill, phone immunity

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - U.S. telephone companies that took part in President George W. Bush's warrantless domestic spying program would receive retroactive immunity from lawsuits under a bill approved on Tuesday by the Democratic-led Senate.

On a largely party-line vote, the Senate sent the measure, which would also tighten controls on electronic surveillance, to the House of Representatives for a certain fight over whether the House will also approve it.

About 40 civil lawsuits have been filed accusing AT&T Inc ((T.N: Quote, Profile, Research)), Verizon Communications Inc ((VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research)) and Sprint Nextel Corp ((S.N: Quote, Profile, Research)) of violating Americans' privacy rights in helping the government's warrantless domestic spying program started shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. (Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Lori Santos)