Tirana, Albania  - The United States "will remain the leader" in resolving the world's crises and promoting democracy when president-elect Barack Obama takes power in January, Albanian President Bamir Topi said Wednesday.

Topi congratulated Obama on his victory in Tuesday's election, calling it a "lesson in democracy" and "a historic day for America."

Baghdad - People heading to work in Baghdad on Wednesday morning knew that this day was different than any other; it was the morning after the first black president, Barack Obama, was elected.

While parents were dropping their kids off at school or rushing to work, a feeling of optimism spread on the street. Iraqis, who blame President George Bush for the chaos in their country since the fall of Saddam Hussein, were anticipating how a black Democrat president will "fix things in Iraq".

Johannesburg - Former South African president Nelson Mandela said Wednesday Barack Obama's election to the White House was a triumph for hope.

In a letter of congratulation to the president-elect, Mandela, 90, said: "Your victory has demonstrated that no person anywhere in the world should not dare to dream of wanting to change the world for a better place."

Jerusalem  - Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulated president-elect Barack Obama Wednesday on his "historic victory," saying the "special" relationship between Washington and Israel would not only continue but even strengthen during his time in office.

"America proved once again that it is indeed the greatest democracy, which presents an example to all other democracies in the world. President-elect Obama proved his abilities and leadership to the entire world," Olmert said in a statement from his office.

Tokyo - People in the small north-central and southern Japanese towns of Obama exuberantly celebrated Wednesday as the communities' namesake was elected US president.

The Obama Boys and Girls were dancing their hula in north-central Obama city when the news broke that Barack Obama defeated rival Republican candidate John McCain and was declared president-elect.

During Obama's victory speech at Grant Park, Chicago, his fans in the far-eastern fishing town also joined the Obama chants.

"Mr Obama proved to us that we can make our dreams come true by taking action," an Obama resident said after the results came in.

Beirut - Now that the US has chosen Barack Obam