The Republican Convention has opened in Cleveland with a dramatic demonstration of division.
Delegates seeking to dump Donald Trump as the party's Presidential nominee engaged in a daring act of political dissent on the floor of the Convention shortly after it got underway.
Their efforts were eventually over-ruled but demonstrated how difficult it will be for Donald Trump to unify the party around his candidacy.
Our US correspondent Simon Marks reports from Cleveland.
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AXX This is not how Donald Trump wanted this conventio .to begin.
But anti-Trump forces made a last-ditch attempt to get their voices heard at the convention….
They wanted a "roll call vote" on the rules governing the Convention….a move that would have given them access to the microphones to express their hostility towards Donald Trump.
They were eventually over-ruled…..but it was an extraordinary way for this convention to begin.
After that it was plainer sailing for the pro-Trump forces….but there were other moments of controversy.
Pat Smith, the mother of one of the victims of the terrorist strike on the US Consulate in Benghazi telling delegates that Hillary Clinton doesn't belong in the White House….but in jail.
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The highlight of the night….Donald Trump's appearance on the stage to introduce his wife, Melania.
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She then became the second person named Trump to address this convention….there will be many more….an indicator of the difficulties Republicans have had attracting star-power to the Convention platform.
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Some here, though, say they think the Trump family's front-line presence at this convention is a strength….not a weakness highlighting how many senior Republicans aren't here.
TAKE GIZZI SOUNDBITE (Super: John Gizzi, Newsmax.com)
"I could be very wealthy if I could turn around and get money from all the people that say they're sick and tired of the pols, who speak on Beat the Democrats night and the Keynote Address. And they'd like to see something new. Donald Trump has a very attractive family".
Donald Trump loyalists can now only hope that in the 3 days ahead, he'll be able to persuade the country that the party is in safe hands.
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