Lott returns as Republican whip

Senator Lott was rebuked by President Bush for his comments

Trent Lott has been elected as Republican whip in the US Senate, four years after resigning from the party's top Senate job.

He won the election by one vote in a closed door Republican Senate caucus meeting, party aides said.

Mr Lott stepped down as Senate leader in 2002 over comments apparently condoning racial segregation in the US.

Mitch McConnell was voted Republican minority leader. The party lost control of both Congress houses last week.

Mr Lott defeated Senator Lamar Alexander to secure his new role, which will make him the party's second-in-command in the upper chamber.

Apology

His controversial comments four years ago came in remarks made at the 100th birthday party of veteran Senator Strom Thurmond.

He quickly apologised for saying America would have been better off if Senator Thurmond had won on a segregationist ticket in the 1948 presidential elections. But President George W Bush rebuked Mr Lott publicly, and he resigned soon afterwards.

Mr McConnell faced no opposition for the post of minority leader, and replaces Majority Leader Bill Frist.

Mr Frist is considered a possible contender for the 2007 presidential elections and did not stand for re-election in the Senate.

The leadership elections follow heavy losses for the Republican Party in mid-term elections last week.

The Democrats now have the upper hand in the Senate - although both parties hold 49 seats, two independent senators say they will vote with the Democrats.