¡¡¡¡Special Report: U.S. midterm elections

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President Bush and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi in the Oval Office after their lunch together, Nov. 9, 2006. (Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush had lunch with House Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer at the White House on Thursday, after Republicans lost its control of Congress in Tuesday's elections.

    At an appearance at the Oval Office, Bush said he congratulated Pelosi for becoming the first woman House speaker.

    "This is historic for our country," he said.

    Pelosi, as the Democratic leader at the House of Representatives, was in line to become the first woman speaker in the U.S. history when the 110 Congress convenes in early January next year.

    Since the elections, Bush had taken reconciliatory steps to improve ties with Democrats. He made telephone calls to Pelosi early Wednesday to congratulate Democrats' victories, and invited Pelosi and Hoyer for lunch at the White House.

    Bush said he had a "very constructive and very friendly conversation" with Pelosi and Hoyer, the second-ranking Democrat in the House, and they discussed a wide-ranging of important issues.

    "When you win, you have a responsibility to do the best you can for the country," he said.

    Bush said he and Democrats did not agree on every issue, but they agreed to address challenges facing the country "in a constructive way."

    "We won't agree on every issue, but we do agree ... that we will do our very best to address big problems," he said.

    A harsh critic of the Bush administration before the elections, Pelosi said the two sides "extended the hand of friendship, of partnership to solve the problems facing our country, the challenges that America's working families face."

    With a Republican-controlled Congress, the last two years of Bush's presidency would prove to be very difficult for the White House. The Bush administration would have to seek support from Democrats to move forward with its legislative agenda, and Democrats would exert more pressure on the president to adjust its policy on Iraq.

    Bush says open to suggestions on Iraq

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said Thursday that he is open to any suggestions on Iraq following the Democrats' control of the House of Representatives in midterm elections.

    "Whatever party you come from, we all have a responsibility to ensure that these troops have the resources and support they need to prevail," Bush said after a cabinet meeting.  Full story>>

    Bush congratulates Democrats' win, shares responsibility

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush, at a press conference in the White House on Wednesday, said he congratulates the Democrats' win in taking control of the House of Representatives in midterm legislative elections and he shares responsibility for the Republicans' loss.

    Bush said he will meet with Nancy Pelosi, the Democrats' leader who will likely become the next speaker of the House of Representatives.  Full story>>