Texas Senator Ted Cruz has won the Iowa Republican caucuses, the first vote to choose US presidential candidates.
“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives,” he declared, to great applause, as he railed against Washington, lobbyists and the media.
He took 28% of the Republican vote, beating his rival, the frontrunner Donald Trump, and Marco Rubio.
Votes in the Democratic race are still being counted, with Hillary Clinton’s camp saying they have narrowly won.
Her campaign director in Iowa, Matt Paul, said there was “no uncertainty” that the former secretary of state and first lady had beaten Bernie Sanders, a 74-year-old senator from Vermont.
In five precincts the vote was decided by the toss of a coin – all going to Mrs Clinton, according to the Des Moines Register.
“The results tonight are the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history,” said.
Iowa’s Democratic Party said with one precinct still to be called there results were “the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history”.
Mr Sanders said it was a “virtual tie” and before leaving for New Hampshire, which is holding party primaries on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton told her supporters she was “breathing a sigh of relief”.
There was no such ambiguity from Republican victor Mr Cruz, the 45-year-old conservative, who is disliked by the Republican Party leadership.
“Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media, will not be chosen by the Washington establishment,” he said.
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Source: BBC