DHAKA: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has easily won the US state of Nevada, cementing his lead in the race for party nomination.

The billionaire now has three consecutive wins, after victories in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, who have been attacking each other this week, are vying for second place, reports the BBC.

Party officials said they were looking into reports of double voting and not enough ballots at one caucus site.

Some volunteers also wore clothing in support of Trump, but officials said this was not against the rules.

Nevada, typically a swing state with a substantial Latino population, is crucial to the election process. Hillary Clinton won the state on Saturday in the Democratic race.

Some 30 delegates - more than 1% of the total - are up for grabs in the Nevada caucuses, the first Republican test in the west of the United States.

Early results show Donald Trump has a 42% lead over the rest of the Republican pack, with his closest rival Marco Rubio getting 25% of the vote.

Cheers erupted at the Trump camp in Las Vegas as US networks started projecting the New York billionaire’s victory.

BDST: 1244 HRS, FEB 24, 2016
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