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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| Democrats 'to control US Senate' | Democrats 'to control US Senate' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Democrats are set to win the final seat needed to take control of the US Senate, the Associated Press reports. | Democrats are set to win the final seat needed to take control of the US Senate, the Associated Press reports. |
| AP declared Democrat Jim Webb victor in Virginia by 7,236 votes over Republican incumbent George Allen. Official results have yet to confirm a win. | AP declared Democrat Jim Webb victor in Virginia by 7,236 votes over Republican incumbent George Allen. Official results have yet to confirm a win. |
| Democrats have already taken the House of Representatives, and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned. | Democrats have already taken the House of Representatives, and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned. |
| Republican defeat in the mid-term polls has been blamed on the Iraq war, of which Mr Rumsfeld was a key architect. | Republican defeat in the mid-term polls has been blamed on the Iraq war, of which Mr Rumsfeld was a key architect. |
| President George W Bush named former CIA director Robert Gates as his new defence chief. | President George W Bush named former CIA director Robert Gates as his new defence chief. |
| The president said the Republicans had taken a "thumping" in Tuesday's vote, in which the Democrats gained control of the House for the first time in 12 years. | The president said the Republicans had taken a "thumping" in Tuesday's vote, in which the Democrats gained control of the House for the first time in 12 years. |
| The Senate race has been hanging on Virginia, where Mr Allen's aides were quoted as saying he did not want to drag out the process and was likely to make a decision in the coming hours. | The Senate race has been hanging on Virginia, where Mr Allen's aides were quoted as saying he did not want to drag out the process and was likely to make a decision in the coming hours. |
| Control of the Senate and its committees would give Democrats the right to hold hearings and approve presidential appointments, including those to the Supreme Court. | |
| Mr Bush is due to begin trying to forge a working relationship with the Democrats by having lunch with Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the speaker of the House. | Mr Bush is due to begin trying to forge a working relationship with the Democrats by having lunch with Nancy Pelosi, who is set to become the speaker of the House. |
| 'Tired of failures' | 'Tired of failures' |
| A win for Mr Webb would give the Democrats the six seats needed for a majority. | A win for Mr Webb would give the Democrats the six seats needed for a majority. |
| Profile: Robert Gates Press reacts to departure In quotes: Rumsfeld resigns | Profile: Robert Gates Press reacts to departure In quotes: Rumsfeld resigns |
| AP called the election for the Democrats after contacting election officials in the state's 134 localities for updated figures. | AP called the election for the Democrats after contacting election officials in the state's 134 localities for updated figures. |
| Correspondents say the call reflects the general view that it will be impossible for any recount to change the outcome. | Correspondents say the call reflects the general view that it will be impossible for any recount to change the outcome. |
| Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid claimed victory in Virginia. | 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. | "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." | "In Iraq and here at home, Americans have made clear they are tired of the failures of the last six years." |
| A victory by Mr Webb would give both parties 49 seats in the upper chamber. | A victory by Mr Webb would give both parties 49 seats in the upper chamber. |
| SENATE RACES DEMOCRAT GAINS: McCaskill takes Missouri Casey gains PennsylvaniaBrown gains OhioWhitehouse gains Rhode IslandTester takes MontanaWebb projected to take Virginia Bush speech: Full text | SENATE RACES DEMOCRAT GAINS: McCaskill takes Missouri Casey gains PennsylvaniaBrown gains OhioWhitehouse gains Rhode IslandTester takes MontanaWebb projected to take Virginia Bush speech: Full text |
| Two independents have said they will vote with the Democrats, which would give the party the 51 votes they need to claim a majority for the first time since 2002. | Two independents have said they will vote with the Democrats, which would give the party the 51 votes they need to claim a majority for the first time since 2002. |
| The reported margin of victory in Virginia is small enough for a recount to be possible, but with 99% of votes now counted, it is thought to be virtually impossible for Mr Allen to make up sufficient ground to win. | The reported margin of victory in Virginia is small enough for a recount to be possible, but with 99% of votes now counted, it is thought to be virtually impossible for Mr Allen to make up sufficient ground to win. |
| 'Fresh perspective' | 'Fresh perspective' |
| President Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq. | President Bush said that he and Mr Rumsfeld had agreed that a "fresh perspective" was needed in Iraq. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I think Rumsfeld should have stepped down a long time ago Cample, New York Send us your comments Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence in Iraq has continued to spiral, three years after the US-led invasion. | HAVE YOUR SAY I think Rumsfeld should have stepped down a long time ago Cample, New York Send us your comments Mr Rumsfeld had faced growing calls to quit as violence in Iraq 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. | "It's been quite a time," said Mr Rumsfeld in a short departing speech. |
| Ms Pelosi welcomed the resignation. | Ms Pelosi welcomed the 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. |