US President George W Bush has said he is 'open to any idea or suggestion' on the war in Iraq.
Speaking during an apearance with his Cabinet in the White House Rose Garden, Mr Bush said Americans expected their politicans to rise above partisan differences and to support American troops.
His comments come following the US mid term elections which saw the Republicans lose control of both Houses of Congress.
Virginia Republican George Allen this evening conceded defeat in his tight Senate race against James Webb, giving Democrats a majority in the US Congress for the first time in 12 years.
Unease with the conduct of the war in Iraq and a series of scandals linked to Republicans are seen as root causes of the mid-term election defeat.
Voters also expressed concern over skyrocketing healthcare costs, the economy, illegal immigration and so-called 'values' issues such as stem-cell research, gay marriage and abortion.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that he does not believe the results of the US mid-term elections will make much difference to Ireland's dealings with the Bush administration.
Mr Ahern said that both sides had made the war in Iraq a key issue in the election and that US President George W Bush had acknowledged its importance with the changes he made yesterday.
Rumsfeld steps down
Yesterday evening, Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld resigned after the Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives.
Mr Bush acknowledged that voters were frustrated over the Iraq war and announced Mr Rumsfeld's resignation and replacement with former CIA director Robert Gates.
Mr Gates, 63, has served six US presidents, including the current US leader's father, George H Bush.
Mr Rumsfeld's departure ends his second term as head of the Pentagon, after a career as a Navy pilot and serving as White House chief of staff to former US President Gerald Ford.
