Republican members of the U.S. Senate elected Mitch McConnel on Wednesday as the Senator minority leader for the 110th Congress that convenes early January next year, one day after Democrats selected their leadership for the new Congress following victories in last week's legislative elections.

McConnel, who currently holds the No. 2 position in the Republican Senate leadership as majority whip, would succeed Bill Frist, who is the majority leader in the Senate but did not seek reelection this year.

Republican senators also elected Trent Lott to the No. 2 post.

Lott, a one-time whip and majority leader, was ousted from the top Senate Republican post four years ago for remarks regarded racially insensitive.

Republicans lost six seats in the 100-member Senate in the Nov. 7 elections, reducing its seats to 49. Democrats, together with two Democatic-leaning Independents, increased their seats to 51, making them the majority party in the Senate for the first time since 2002.

Democrats elected Harry Reid as the Senate majority leader and Richard Durbin as the Senate majority whip for the new Congress on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Democrats would elect their House leadership and Republicans would select theirs on Friday.

Democrats took control of both chambers of Congress in last week's elections, the first time in 12 years.

Source: Xinhua