Robert Byrd, who was the longest-serving member in the history of the US Congress, has died. He was 92.
Senator Byrd, a Democrat, had been elected to the House of Representatives in 1952 before entering the Senate seven years later.
He rose from poverty in his home state of West Virginia to become what President Obama described as “a venerable institution”.
During his political career he had cast more votes than any senator in history.
After the death was announced, officials in the Senate draped his desk in black.
Senator Byrd will be remembered as a champion of civil rights and a strong opponent of the Iraq war. He also had warned about the US involvement in Afghanistan.
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