Bells confirm pope elected

VATICAN CITY - The giant bells of St Peter`s Basilica rang out Tuesday, confirming to tens of thousands of ecstatic pilgrims that cardinals had elected a new pope in the first conclave of the third millennium.
The bells put to an end any uncertainty, after white smoke had begun billowing out of the chimney above the Sistine Chapel at 5:49 pm (1549 GMT).
An announcement of the new pope`s identity was expected within the next half hour at around 6:30 pm.