Wasserman quits as Democrats Chairman after Wikileaks email hack

Democratic party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has stepped down following Bernie Sanders' call for her resignation in the wake of a humiliating Wikileaks email hack that exposed her bias and showed the party had conspired against the Vermont senator.

Party officials took part in crisis talks on Sunday afternoon - the eve of the party's national convention in Philadelphia leading to Wasserman Schultz's resignation at around 4pm.

The controversy exploded over the weekend, prompted in part by the publication of some 19,000 hacked emails on Friday, some of which suggested the Democratic Nation Committee was favoring Hillary Clinton during the primary season.

Later on Sunday, Wasserman Schultz was seen on the floor of the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia making final adjustments ahead of the party's convention that starts today (Monday).