US Politics: New era as Democrats take power

Today the Democrats are officially taking control of Congress after 12 years as a minority.

Nancy Pelosi has published a manifesto for the Democrats' first 100 hours. Along with a promise to stamp out corruption, it includes plans to boost the minimum wage, increase stem cell research, and end subsidies for large oil companies.

Democrats have also said they will put pressure on Mr Bush to begin a phased withdrawal from Iraq.