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Obama's election "extraordinary step forward" for US, Rice says

Obama's election "extraordinary step forward" for US, Rice says Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised president-elect Barack Obama for his victory and said Wednesday the United States has taken an "extraordinary step" by electing the first African American to the White House.

"One of the great things about representing this country is that it continues to surprise. It continues to renew itself. It continues to beat all odds and expectations," Rice said in a brief appearance before reporters.

Chavez congratulates Obama, suggests rebuilding relations

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama Wednesday on his "historic" win and said the time had come for the two countries to establish new relations.

Chavez emphasized Caracas' will to "build, on the basis of absolute respect for sovereignty, a constructive bilateral agenda for the welfare of the Venezuelan and the US people," according to a statement issued by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.

"The historic election of an African American to lead the most powerful nation in the world is symptomatic of a changing era that has been conceived in South America and could be knocking on the doors of the United States," he said.

Uribe congratulates Obama, sure of further Colombia-US cooperation

Uribe congratulates Obama, sure of further Colombia-US cooperation Bogota - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Wednesday congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama on his election victory, and said he was sure that the two countries would continue to cooperate.

Uribe, widely regarded as US President George W Bush's main ally in Latin America, said his government's main interest in further cooperation lay in the fights against drug trafficking and terrorism.

US author Michael Crichton dies at 66

US author Michael Crichton dies at 66Los Angeles - US author M

Amy Winehouse's husband let out of jail, goes to rehab

Winehouse's husband let out of jail, goes to rehab London - The husband of British retro-soul singer Amy Winehouse was released from jail Wednesday and immediately checked into a drug rehabilitation clinic, the Press Association reported.

Blake Fielder-Civil, 26, was sentenced for helping to beat up a pub landlord and jailed for 27 months by a court in London three months ago. He had already spent nine months in jail on remand when he was sentenced.

His admission to a rehabilitation clinic was part of the terms of his release, the report said.

Taiwan protesters barricade Chinese envoy inside hotel

Taiwan protesters barricade Chinese envoy inside hotelTaipei - Hundreds of anti-China protesters clashed with riot police Wednesday evening when the protesters tried to prevent Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin from leaving a Taipei hotel where he was attending a banquet.

The banquet at the Regent Hotel ended at 8:30 pm (1330 GMT), but the siege continued until after midnight, despite riot police's effort to disperse the protesters.

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