Washington: Democrats tookthe reins of power in the US Congress in a festive mood, electing the firstfemale speaker of the House of Representatives and calling on President GeorgeW. Bush to begin pulling US troops out of Iraq.

Swearing-in ceremonies at the alabaster-domed Capitolbuilding here yesterday (Jan 4, 2007) capped the shift of power set off byelections in November, which cost Bush's centre-right Republicans theirmajority in both chambers for the first time since 1995.

Nancy Pelosi, a left-leaning lawmaker from San Francisco, became speaker of the lower House, the first woman in US history tohold the nation's third-highest elected office.

The centre-left Democrats in the 435-seat House shouted hername, cheered, whistled and even danced at their seat as Pelosi won the post onthe strength of her party's 233-202 majority.

"Americans have voted for a 'new direction' in the warin Iraq,and Bush should present a plan to responsibly redeploy our troops," shetold the House in her inaugural speech.

Bush plans to present a revised Iraqstrategy shortly, and has staunchly rejected Democratic calls for a timetablefor USdisengagement. He is reportedly considering a boost in US forces by 20,000 to40,000 troops to help quell sectarian killings in Baghdad and other hot spots.

Despite his party's defeat in the legislative elections,Bush retains broad powers to set foreign and military policy. 

And Democrats have no unified plan for getting US troopshome from Iraq.

In the new House's first 100 working hours, Democrats planto focus on domestic measures designed to appeal to middle-class Americans and- as the first order of business - ethics reform to combat corruption and sexscandals. 

Other legislation slated for quick passage would raise theminimum wage, promote stem-cell research for disease cures and lowerprescription drug prices for the elderly.

However, the Senate may move more slowly, and Democrats lackthe two-thirds majority in both houses to override Bush if he vetoeslegislation.

At Thursday's ceremonies, steeped in more than 200 years of US history,partisan conflicts were set aside at least for a few hours.

Pelosi, 66, mouthed 'Thank you' and kissed supporters afterher election, before striding to the podium and accepting the House gavel fromRepublican John Boehner, the House's incoming minority leader.

In another historic moment, the first Muslim member ofCongress was sworn in along with other House members. Keith Ellison later tooka second, ceremonial oath of office on a Koran that once belonged to revered USfounding father Thomas Jefferson, who was president from 1801-09.

Ellison, 43, is a convert to Islam from Minnesota state whose use of the Koran wascriticised by some right-wing lawmakers.

Earlier, US Vice President Dick Cheney swore in 33 newlyelected senators in the 100-seat upper chamber, where the Democrats hold anarrow, 51-49 edge that limits their legislative room for manoeuvre.

Pelosi is not yet a household name for most Americans. Butas House minority leader since 2003, she played a key role in setting theDemocratic agenda and election strategy.

Despite pledges of cooperation by Bush and both parties,signs of conflict emerged even before the new Congress was seated.

Republicans complained that despite Democratic pledges formore legislative transparency, they were excluded from the process of draftingof the first package of measures Pelosi wants the new House to pass.

Bush's party called for tax breaks for small businesses tooffset any hike in the USminimum wage.