The US election was plunged into bedlam early Wednesday as President Donald Trump prematurely declared triumph and sought Supreme Court intervention to stop vote-counting, even as his Democratic rival Joe Biden voiced confidence in his own chances.

In a divisive election cast under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed more than 2,30,000 lives in the U.S, Trump appeared to have kept away from a Democratic wave forcast by some polls but he still needs key states to secure another four-year term.

Shattering norms in the world's most powerful democracy, Trump alleged "major fraud" as he held an upbeat rally inside the White House's ceremonial East Room.  We did win this election," Trump told cheering supporters, few of them wearing masks to protect from Covid-19. "This is a fraud on the American public."  The Republican tycoon said he would go to the Supreme Court because "we want all voting to stop." Voting had already ended by the time Trump took the podium after 0700 GMT, but Trump appeared to be calling for the court to stop counting.

Trump comes into action against 'electoral manipulation', warns of going to court

Trump and Joe Biden opened their tally with a predictable string

Fear of violence during election in America, White House turned into fort