Obama clinches historic victory over Clinton

US: Barack Obama made history Tuesday, capturing the Democratic White House nomination as the first black candidate atop a major-party ticket, after a giant-slaying win over Hillary Clinton.

"America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past," Obama said even as Clinton, on her own quest to be the first female president, refused to formally concede defeat.

"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States," Obama said, in one of the final acts of the longest, most expensive and spellbinding nominating epic ever.

The Illinois senator's momentous victory set up an intriguing general election clash with the 71-year-old Republican senator, John McCain. On November 4, voters must pick between Obama, a freshman senator and charismatic mixed-race standard-bearer of a new political generation, and McCain, a wounded Vietnam war hero asking for one final call to service.

Clinton congratulated Obama on an "extraordinary" race but refused to bow out, demanding respect for the nearly 18 million people who voted for her and leaving no doubt that she considered herself the best potential president.

Obama, who must now mend his divided party, paid lavish tribute to Clinton. "She's a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight,"

St Paul, Minnesota, Wednesday, AFP