Dublin - Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on Wednesday congratulated Senator Barack Obama on being elected president of the United States, saying Obama's election was "a day of hope for the world".

"Barack Obama's remarkable personal story - allied to his eloquence and his huge political talents - sends a powerful message of hope to America's friends across the world."

"There is a palpable sense of history with the election of the first African-American president.

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expects US president-elect Barack Obama to open "a new era" in international relations, government sources said Wednesday.

Obama will give a new push to multilateralism in economic and foreign policy, increasing dialogue and coordination between the regions of the world, the sources quoted the Socialist premier as saying.

Washington, Nov 5 : Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. sees his role in Barack Obama’s Administration as “adviser in chief,” using his decades of experience in the Senate to offer the new US President candid input on domestic and foreign policy issues, his aides have said.

But Biden, a twice-failed presidential candidate, will not use the post in a way many vice presidents have: To make a play for the Oval Office. He has said publicly that he does not intend to run for the presidency again, the Washington Post reported.

Kabul - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday that he hoped Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election would bring peace for war-weary Afghans and urged the president-elect to reduce civilian casualties in Afghanistan after being sworn in.

At a press conference held in his fortified presidential palace, Karzai congratulated Obama, who defeated his Republican rival and fellow senator, John McCain.

Paris - At 2:30 am on Wednesday, the people gathered in a small private club near the Champs Elysees in Paris began clapping, cheering and chanting "Yes, we can," the slogan of the Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United States, Barack Obama.

CNN had just projected that Obama would win the key state of Pennsylvania, a sign for the politically savvy members of the Representative Council of Black Associations in France (CRAN) and their friends that he was on his way to victory.

New Delhi, Nov 5: President Pratibha Patil today congratulated Senator Barack Obama on his election as the next President of the United States of America.

In her message, the President said, "Excellency, please accept my heartiest congratulations on your election as the next President of the United States of America.

"The people of India, who have closely followed the U. S. election process with unprecedented interest, see your election as a historic mandate of the people of the United States of America," she added.