The Democratic Party has taken control of the House of Representatives in the United States following mid-term elections.
It wrested control from the ruling Republicans in the lower house for the first time in 12 years with a bigger majority than had been predicted.
In a much-forecasted takeover, the Democrats unseated Republican incumbents in states from New York to Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Arizona.
The Democrats have gained 30 seats, having only needed a net gain of 15 seats to take control of the house.
Democratic control of the House is likely to halt President George W Bush's legislative agenda in his final two years and give Democrats a chance to investigate the Bush administration's most controversial policy decisions such as the war in Iraq.
As counting continues, Democrats have picked up four of the six Senate seats needed to take control of the upper house.
A recount may be called in Virginia to determine the winners of the Senate seat there after results put the Democrats narrowly ahead.
Democrat James Webb currently holds an 8,000-vote advantage over Republican George Allen out of more than 2 million votes cast.
A recount and possible legal challenges could delay naming a winner, leaving Senate control uncertain.
Clinton returned in New York
Hillary Clinton easily secured re-election as New York Senator, opening the door for an expected, but still undeclared, bid for the White House in 2008.
The former First Lady won by a landslide in the overwhelmingly Democratic state with almost 67% of the vote.
She spent almost $30 million of her US Senate campaign funds, more than any other candidate, in the run-up to the election, further fuelling speculation that she is preparing for 2008.
In Minnesota, Keith Ellison became the first Muslim to win a seat in the US Congress despite a bitter campaign marked by sharp personal attacks.
The Democrat took the seat despite his opponent's frequent attacks on Mr Ellison's past association with the Nation of Islam.
Long time Senator Joe Lieberman was re-elected as an Independent in Connecticut. Mr Lieberman had refused to step aside in August when he was denied re-nomination by the Democratic Party, largely over his support for the war in Iraq.
Democrats took governors' seats from Republicans in five states, although California's Republican Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was returned as governor of what is the world's fifth biggest economy.
All 435 House seats, 33 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 governorships were at stake in the elections, with 200 million US citizens eligible to vote.
