US diplomats had an early start today, hosting receptions around the country at which the US presidential election results are being awaited. The Cape Town reception, at the Taj Hotel in the city centre, was due to start at 4am, attended by diplomats, business leaders and government officials.The first poll results are expected at 6am South African time."To commemorate the occasion the US embassy in Pretoria and our consulates in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban will host receptions," said US embassy spokesman Cynthia Harvey.Professor John Stremlau, of the department of international relations at Wits University, said the election was a turning point for Americans."We've never been to the point at which we had an opposition which is not a loyal opposition," Stremlau said."We've never had an opposition since the Civil War question the integrity of the constitutional and electoral systems."This is a seminal moment. With the Obama coalition and equality among identity groups a collective ubuntu-based democracy will emerge."..