Hillary Clinton nominated as senate candidate

The first lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton, has been formally nominated as the Democratic Party's candidate for the Senate in the state of New York.

Her endorsement came at a convention in the state capital, Albany, attended by her husband, President Clinton and some ten thousand Democrats.

A BBC correspondent says the event had all the razzamatazz of a US party convention, marking the fact that Mrs Clinton is the first American first lady ever to run for public office.

Her chances of being elected have increased since her Republican rival, the Mayor of New York City, Rudolf Giuliani, admitted marital problems and being ill with prostate cancer. Our correspondent says he's expected to pull out leaving the Republicans scrambling to find a candidate who might beat Mrs Clinton.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service