Billionaire Donald Trump has taken another stride towards the White House with victory in the Nevada caucuses.
The colourful tycoon recorded his third straight win in the race for the Republican nomination for president.
He now heads into next week's Super Tuesday vote in 11 states with his rivals struggling to find a way to stop him.
Entrance polls in Nevada revealed voters were once again angry at the political establishment and wanted an outsider to run the country.
Trump told supporters: "If you had listened to the pundits we weren't going to win too much but now we are winning, winning, winning and the country will soon be winning, winning, winning".
He listed victories amongst evangelical Christians, Latinos, highly educated and poorly educated. "I love the poorly educated," he said.
The victory was marred by allegations of voting irregularities, caucus officials wearing Trump campaign clothing and a shortage of ballot papers.
There were chaotic scenes at one caucus location in a Las Vegas High School - one woman suffered a facial injury in the scrum - but it also featured a huge turn-out of Trump supporters.
Sam Scott, wearing a 'Hillary for Prison 2016' T-shirt, said he was behind The Donald: "He is the only Republican candidate I see that really does have groundswell support".
And Cassius Green added: "This country is in a predicament now because of politicians. He's a businessman and business needs to be taken care of in Washington DC".
It was a dispiriting night for establishment favourite Marco Rubio and conservative darling Ted Cruz but all of Trump's rivals are struggling to find a way to derail his campaign.
It was Trump's first victory in a caucus state, significant because he defies traditional campaigning methods and relies on speeches to huge crowds and dominating the airwaves.
All the remaining Republican candidates will take part in a televised debate in Texas on Thursday, their last chance to woo voters before Super Tuesday.
Meanwhile, a poll has shown 81% of Irish people think the world would be a less safe place if Donald Trump becomes the next US president.
He addressed supporters in Las Vegas after being declared winner:
