In pictures: US elects a president

Huge numbers of reporters awaited results as polls suggested a neck-and-neck race, but at this stage gave the president a slender lead in crucial swing states.

As polls across the country closed Mr Obama's supporters heard he had taken key states Michigan and Pennsylvania, as well as many others he won in 2008.

Mr Romney's supporters were also hopeful as they heard he had carried solid Republican states, in addition to taking Indiana from Mr Obama.

Republican supporters were left to wonder what might have been despite the fact that several swing states, including Florida and Virginia, had yet to report results.Source Getty Image and Reuters.