Bush loses control of Senate

President George W Bush has suffered another blow as the Democrats have taken control of the Senate in America's mid-term elections.George Allen has conceded defeat to Jim Webb in the close election in Virginia, so the Democrats now have the majority of senators.Mr Allen said: "Today I called and congratulated Jim Webb and his team for his victory."Electoral figures showed Mr Allen was trailing by 9,000 of the 2.4 million votes cast in the state but he decided not to demand a further recount.The Republican party has also lost control of the House of Representatives in the election, so the Democrats now control Congress for the first time in 12 years.Meanwhile, the President has invited suggestions on ways of winning the war in Iraq.Mr Bush had lunch with Nancy Pelosi, the Republican who will become speaker of the House of Representatives.He said: "We won't agree on every issue, but we do agree that we love America."Ms Pelosi also admitted there will be disagreements.She said: "We both extended the hand of friendship and partnership to solve the problems facing our country."We have our differences and we will debate them, but we will do so in a way that gets results."The Democrats could now conduct congressional investigations into the Bush administration's conduct in Iraq, the treatment of terrorism detainess and the expansion of executive power.Mr Bush added: "I'm open to any idea or suggestion that will help us achieve our goals of defeating the terrorists and ensuring that Iraq's democratic government succeeds."© Independent Television News Limited 2006. All rights reserved.

ITN | November 10, 2006

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