LOS ANGELES: US congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a senior Californian Republican, broke down as he resigned yesterday after pleading guilty in court to taking bribes, including cash, a yacht and a Rolls-Royce.

The case is the latest scandal to rock President George W.Bush's Republicans who dominate US Congress. The party has controlled US Congress for more than a decade.

Cunningham admitted taking $US2.4 million ($3.24 million) in bribes in exchange for help in securing US Defence Department contracts.

Cunningham, 63, an eight-term congressman and decorated Vietnam War pilot, also admitted taking antiques, holiday expenses and money for his daughter's graduation party from several defence contractors between 2000 and 2005.

"I am resigning from the House of Representatives because I've compromised the trust of my constituents," Cunningham said after a hearing in San Diego US Federal Court.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, bribery and tax evasion, as well as one count of failing to report more than $US1million in income in 2004.

Former house majority leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican, was indicted in September on charges of breaking his state's campaign finance laws. The US Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating stock sales by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee

Republican, and vice-presidential aide Lewis Libby was also charged last month with perjury over the leaking of a CIA operative's name.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said in a statement the Cunningham case was "just the latest example of the culture of corruption that pervades the Republican-controlled Congress."

Cunningham denied any wrongdoing in July. But yesterday he said he was deeply sorry and ashamed. He said he would co-operate in the government investigation of at least four defence contractors.

"I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office. I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family," he said, choking back tears.

Cunningham had already said he would not seek re-election in 2006. He will be sentenced on February 27 when he faces up to 10 years in prison.

His guilty plea followed months of investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the criminal investigative arm of the Pentagon, the FBI and federal prosecutors.

Cunningham is a member of the house intelligence committee and the appropriations sub-committee, which controls defence spending.

No contractors were named in the plea agreement. But prosecutors said some months ago they were investigating the $US1.6 million sale in 2003 of Cunningham's home in Del Mar, California, to Mitchell Wade. Wade was until recently the chief executive of Washington-based defence contractor MZM Inc.