New Delhi, Nov. 5 : The Indian Government on Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the 2008 US Presidential Elections, and hoped that relations between the two countries would continue to improve under the new Democratic administration.

London - Barack Obama's "astonishing victory" in the US presidential elections wil

Berlin - The US presidential election might have been decided but the race is now on for early invitations to Barack Obama's White House.

With Germans enthusiastically joining in the global celebrations of the 47-year-old Illinois senator's sweeping victory, Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier are both likely to hope they are top of the list for talks with the new US president.

Warsaw  - US president-elect Barack Obama's victory means "a new image for America across the world," and seems "like a fairy tale," Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said Wednesday.

But an opposition leader had doubts Obama could be tough enough with Russia.

"It's a joyful moment, because Americans feel that something very important has taken place," Sikorski told a radio station, calling Obama "charismatic" and "unbelievably intelligent."

London  - The British Labour government and opposition parties Wednesday hailed as "inspirational" the victory of Barack Obama in the American presidential election which they hope will open a new era in the much-vaunted "special relationship" between Britain and the US.

"This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written," Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. "I have talked to Senator Obama on many occasions and I know that he is a true friend of Britain," he added.

Harare - Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Wednesday termed Barack Obama's ascension to the US presidency as a victory for the struggle for democracy in Africa.

"For those of us who are still in the trenches, fighting for change and democracy across the entire African continent, this is our victory," the party of longtime opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said in a statement on Obama's win.

The desire for change that swept Obama past the post was also the motor behind the MDC's fight against the "dictatorship" and "neo-fascism" of aging President Robert Mugabe, the party said.