02/02/2016 14:39
Texas Senator Ted Cruz has won the Iowa Republican caucuses, in the first vote of the US presidential campaign.
"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.
The aim of the primary and caucus races in the coming months is to determine which candidates will stand for the two main parties in the November presidential election.
Mrs Clinton's 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 left-wing 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.
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". 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.
Mr Trump congratulated the Texas senator and said he was "honoured" by the second-place finish.
Mr Rubio, who has struggled to gain support in recent months, has performed far better than expected, and finished just one percentage point behind Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, two candidates are bowing out.
Sources close to Democrat Martin O'Malley, former Maryland governor, have told the BBC that he will suspend his campaign - narrowing the field to two competitive candidates.
On the Republican side, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted that he too would suspend his campaign.
Iowa has an unusual election system based on caucuses, which involve people gathering at private homes, schools and other public buildings across the state.
Democratic voters divide themselves into groups based on their preferred candidate, but the Republican caucus process is more like a traditional ballot.
"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.
The aim of the primary and caucus races in the coming months is to determine which candidates will stand for the two main parties in the November presidential election.
Mrs Clinton's 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 left-wing 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.
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". 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.
Mr Trump congratulated the Texas senator and said he was "honoured" by the second-place finish.
Mr Rubio, who has struggled to gain support in recent months, has performed far better than expected, and finished just one percentage point behind Mr Trump.
Meanwhile, two candidates are bowing out.
Sources close to Democrat Martin O'Malley, former Maryland governor, have told the BBC that he will suspend his campaign - narrowing the field to two competitive candidates.
On the Republican side, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted that he too would suspend his campaign.
Iowa has an unusual election system based on caucuses, which involve people gathering at private homes, schools and other public buildings across the state.
Democratic voters divide themselves into groups based on their preferred candidate, but the Republican caucus process is more like a traditional ballot.
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