Uproar at Republican convention as anti-Trump delegates revolt

CLEVELAND, Ohio - There was chaos on the floor on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland as the #NeverTrump made a final push to try and deny businessman Donald Trump the nomination.

The drama hit a peak when Congressmen Steve Womack, who was chairing proceedings, called for a voice vote on whether to adopt the rules that would bind delegates to Mr Trump according to the results of primary election.

The floor instantly exploded into a cacophony as delegates for and against Mr Trump tried to shout over each other.

One group chanted "USA! USA!" while the other chanted "Roll Call Vote!"

Unlike a voice vote, a roll call vote would record the vote of each delegate.

The #NeverTrump movement hoped that even if they lost a roll call vote, it would at least be a record of the numbers they have behind their cause.

But despite the noise, Mr Womack declared the rules adopted, prompting more boos and chanting from the crowd.

He would return to try a voice vote again and declared that the ayes had outnumbered the nays.

Then, in response to a delegate's motion for a roll call vote, he explained that the committee had not received enough signatures to trigger such a vote.

The move effectively ended all further hope of the #NeverTrump movement derailing the nomination of the New York mogul. But it also meant that a convention meant to rally the base has started on a note of disunity.