WASHINGTON, Nov 8: The opposition Democrats captured the House of Representatives in Tuesday’s mid-term elections, came tantalisingly close to winning the Senate as well and immediately called for a change of direction in Iraq.

Dissatisfaction with the Iraq situation played a key role in causing the Republicans to lose control of the Congress after 12 years. Another key factor was the general disappointment with President George Bush. One gubernatorial candidate refused to attend the rally Mr Bush addressed in his state to garner support for him.

By Wednesday, Democrats had won 228 seats in the House, Republicans had won 196 while 11 were still undecided. Democrats needed 15 seats to wrest control of the House from Republicans and already have won 27. Some of the remaining seats were also likely to go to the Democratic Party.

In the Senate, Democrats have 50 seats and the Republicans 49. After a recount in one district, the Senate seat of Republican incumbent Conrad Burns went to State Senate President Jon Tester. With a win in Montana, the Democrats have already swept up five of the six seats they need to grab a majority in the powerful upper chamber.

The result for the Virginia Senate had not been declared till Wednesday afternoon. The Democrats also enjoyed a paper-thin majority in Virginia, once a Republican stronghold.

Until two weeks ago, Virginia was considered a cake-walk for George Allen, the incumbent Republican, who was poised to run for president after his expected victory in the Senate.

Now Mr Allen's political career hangs by a thread as Democrat Jim Webb claimed victory — though fewer than 8,000 votes separated the two, and a recount was virtually certain. A recount risks throwing an American election once again into extra time as it may take as long as a month to finish recounting and certify the final outcome.

Aided by public dissatisfaction with President Bush, Democrats won gubernatorial races in New York, Ohio and Massachusetts for the first time in more than a decade, then put Colorado, Maryland and Arkansas in their column as well.

As many as 68 percent voters, when asked at exit polls, said Iraq was very important for them. From 64-66 percent said it was a factor in determining how they voted.

“Nowhere did the American people make it clearer that we need a new direction than in the war in Iraq,” said Nancy Pelosi, a congresswoman who played a key role in planning the Democratic strategy for the elections.

“President Bush’s policy of staying the course was a catastrophic failure,” said Ms Pelosi, who is all set to make history as America’s first woman speaker. “Mr President, we need a new direction in Iraq,” she said.

“Losing 3,000 American lives in Iraq was unnecessary,” said Senator Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader who may become the new leader of the upper house if the Democrats win the Virginia seat.

While Republicans and Democrats in Virginia worried about the fate of their Senate seat, the larger political debate continued to focus on the Iraq saga. At an afternoon news conference, speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi said she was `not forcing the hand of the president on Iraq … but the American people have spoken’ and Mr Bush must listen to them.

She said the Democrats were willing to work with Mr Bush on a phased `redeployment of American troops outside Iraq’ to end the war.

She also urged Mr Bush to work with Democrats in telling the Iraqi government to share its responsibilities, prepare the Iraqi military for security duties and to work with Iraq’s neighbours to end the war.

Ms Pelosi also urged President Bush to make a reconciliatory gesture by `changing the civilian leadership in the Pentagon’ -- a demand also backed by many Republicans, who want Mr Bush to sack Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his failings in Iraq.

(Mr Bush announced at an evening press conference that Mr Rumsfeld had tendered his resignation).

REPERCUSSIONS: Analysts predicted that if the Democrats seize control of both the Senate and the House, America's political landscape will be transformed, dramatically curbing the powers of President Bush.