Court puts Barack Obama aide Rahm Emanuel back in mayoral race

Illinois' highest court has put former Obama chief aide Rahm Emanuel back in the race for Chicago mayor, three days after a lower court threw him off the ballot because he had not lived in the city for a full year.

The state supreme court ruled unanimously in Mr Emanuel's favour, with a majority of justices concluding the earlier decision was "without any foundation" in the law as it said a candidate must be physically present in Chicago.

Mr Emanuel lived for nearly two years in Washington working for President Barack Obama. He moved back to Chicago in October, after Mayor Richard M Daley announced he would not seek another term, and soon became the heavy favourite to lead the nation's third-largest city. He has also raised more money than any other candidate.