This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6131122.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Democrats 'to control US Senate' Democrats 'to control US Senate'
(30 minutes later)
The leading US news agency has called the last undecided Senate seat in Virginia for the Democrats, which would give them control of the chamber. The leading US news agency has called the final undecided Senate seat for the Democrats, which would give them control of the chamber.
The Associated Press (AP) news agency declared Democrat Jim Webb the winner, reflecting a growing view that a vote recount cannot change that outcome. The Associated Press (AP) news agency declared Democrat Jim Webb the winner in the state of Virginia by 7,236 votes over Republican incumbent George Allen.
But official results have yet to confirm victory for Mr Webb. Official results have yet to confirm a win for Mr Webb.
The claim came after President George W Bush announced that Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was to stand down. Democrats have already won the House of Representatives, and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the election victory has been a stunning one for the Democrats in that they appear to have won both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994. The Republican defeat in the mid-term elections has been widely blamed on the war in Iraq, of which Mr Rumsfeld was one of the main architects.
'Stunning victory'
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the AP call reflects the general view that it will be impossible for any recount to change the outcome.
In Iraq and here at home, Americans have made clear they are tired of the failures of the last six years Harry ReidSenate Democratic leader
The election victory has been a stunning one for the Democrats, he says, in that they appear to have won both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994.
Their aim was to take the Senate by holding onto all their own seats and winning extra ones in traditional Republican areas, he reports, which it now seems they have achieved.Their aim was to take the Senate by holding onto all their own seats and winning extra ones in traditional Republican areas, he reports, which it now seems they have achieved.
While both parties will have 49 seats each, two independents have said they will vote with the Democrats.
This will give Democrats control of the Senate and all committees, with the right to ratify treaties, hold hearings and approve presidential appointments, including those to the Supreme Court.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid claimed victory in Virginia.
"The American people have spoken clearly and decisively in favour of Democrats leading this country in a new direction," he said in a statement.
"In Iraq and here at home, Americans have made clear they are tired of the failures of the last six years."
Recount possibleRecount possible
In Virginia, Mr Webb was reported as leading by more than 6,000 votes over Republican incumbent George Allen. The reported margin of victory in Virginia is small enough for a recount to be possible.
But the margin of victory had been seen so small that a recount was possible. SENATE RACES DEMOCRAT GAINS: McCaskill takes Missouri Casey gains PennsylvaniaBrown gains OhioWhitehouse gains Rhode IslandTester takes MontanaWebb projected to take Virginia href="/1/hi/world/americas/6127414.stm" class="">In quotes: Results
AP called the election after contacting election officials in all the state's 134 localities for updated voting figures. But with 99% of votes now counted, it is thought to be virtually impossible for Mr Allen to make up sufficient ground to win.
With 99% of votes now counted, it is thought to be virtually impossible for Mr Allen to make up sufficient ground to win. AP called the election for the Democrats after contacting election officials in all the state's 134 localities for updated voting figures.
However, the race remains officially open while officials verify preliminary counts at local polling stations before announcing the result.However, the race remains officially open while officials verify preliminary counts at local polling stations before announcing the result.
Because of the narrow margin of Mr Webb's victory, Mr Allen may be entitled to demand a recount, but it is unclear whether he will do so. Though Mr Allen may be entitled to demand a recount, aides were quoted as saying that he did not want to drag out the process and was likely to make a decision on Thursday.
The race is crucial because a Republican victory would lead to a 50-50 split in the Senate with Vice-President Dick Cheney having a casting vote. 'Fresh perspective'
The Republican defeat in the elections has been widely blamed on the war in Iraq, of which Mr Rumsfeld was one of the main architects. President George W Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq.
Nancy Pelosi, the woman set to become the speaker of the House of Representatives - already confirmed to have been won by the Democrats - welcomed Mr Rumsfeld's resignation. As a key architect of the war in Iraq, Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence has continued to spiral, three years after the US-led invasion.
"It's been quite a time," said Mr Rumsfeld in a short departing speech, delivered alongside President Bush.
Nancy Pelosi, the woman set to become the speaker of the House of Representatives, welcomed Mr Rumsfeld's resignation.
"I hope the departure of Mr Rumsfeld will mark a fresh start toward a new policy in Iraq, signalling a willingness on the part of the president to work with the Congress to devise a better way forward," she said."I hope the departure of Mr Rumsfeld will mark a fresh start toward a new policy in Iraq, signalling a willingness on the part of the president to work with the Congress to devise a better way forward," she said.