Supporters made a final effort to save her by appealing to politicians on Capitol Hill to enforce a congressional subpoena which, they say, makes Mrs Schiavo, 41, a legally protected federal witness. Issued 11 days ago to prevent Mrs Schiavo’s feeding tube from being withdrawn, the subpoena was rejected by Florida judge George Greer, triggering a political wrangle over the constitutional separation of powers in the US.

“Were the subpoenas a political stunt or do they plan to enforce them?” asked Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defence Coalition, at a rally outside the White House.

Mrs Schiavo’s parents, Bob and Mary Schindler, seemingly resigned to her death as she spent her tenth full day without food or water, pleaded for a late miracle. For 12 years they have opposed their son-in-law’s efforts to let Mrs Schiavo die. Michael Schiavo argues that his wife, diagnosed with a persistent vegetative state since a heart attack starved her brain of oxygen, would not have wished to stay alive. His home in Clearwater, Florida, which he shares with his girlfriend, Jodi Centonze, and their two children, is protected by armed police. Christian activists who laid flowers on the pavement outside defied a torrent of water as Ms Centonze’s brother, John, switched on the garden sprinklers to keep them away.Mr Schiavo, who has maintained a vigil at his wife’s bedside, was “ very upset”, he said.

Opposite the Woodside Hospice in nearby Pinellas Park, the Schindlers base themselves in a small office building, surrounded by a tented media encampment. Mr Schiavo, who is his wife’s guardian, gives the Schindlers appointments to visit Terri. “Because of the discomfort family members have with Michael, it doesn’t seem a workable situation to have them all in Terri’s room at the same time, ” said his lawyer.

Mr Schindler said after visiting his daughter last night that she had responded with facial expressions to hugs and kisses

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