US mid-terms: Republicans win control of the Senate
Baku, November 5, AZERTACThe Republicans have won control of the Senate in the US mid-term elections, increasing their power in the final two years of Barack Obama's presidency.
The Republicans also increased their grip on the House of Representatives and now control both chambers of Congress for the first time since 2006.
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said the result was a vote against "a government people can no longer trust".
Mr Obama is to hold a press conference later on Wednesday.
He has already invited congressional leaders from both parties to the White House for talks on Friday.
Mr Obama reportedly tried to call Mr McConnell as the results came in, but the two did not speak and the president left a message.
About one-third of the Senate, the entire House of Representatives, 36 of 50 state governors, and numerous state and local offices were up for election.
Throughout the campaign, Republicans focused on voter dissatisfaction with Mr Obama, a Democrat, describing the vote as a referendum on his presidency.
As the first results came in late on Tuesday, it became clear they had made the six gains they needed to win control of the Senate.
The Republicans won in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia. The party now controls 52 seats, and is tipped to win at least one more as votes are counted in other states.
The Republicans are also projected to increase their majority in the House of Representatives to levels not seen since before World War Two.
They also made gains among the 36 governorships up for re-election.
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