Paris - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday sent a letter to US President-elect Barack Obama congratulating him on what he called a "brilliant victory."

After extending the "warmest congratulations" on his behalf and that of the French people, Sarkozy wrote that Obama's election triumph "crowns an exceptional campaign ... (that) has shown the vitality of American democracy to the entire world."

Sarkozy added, "In choosing you, the American people have chosen change, openness and optimism."

Chicago - Jesse Jackson, the stalwart civil rights leader who had a spat with Barack Obama during the campaign, wept in amazement Tuesday night at the resounding decision by American voters to send a black man to the White House.

After "a 54-year marathon race, Barack ran the last lap," Jackson told reporters following Obama's victory speech before tens of thousands at Grant Park in Chicago.

New Delhi, Nov 5: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today congratulated Senator Barack Obama on his election as the new President of the United States.

In his message Dr. Singh said, "I have great pleasure in conveying my heartiest congratulations on your election as the President of the United States. Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world.

Washington, Nov 5: After emerging a clear winner of the Presidential Poll 2008, Barack Obama’s next task would to set up a new team of aides to deliver on the promises which got him elected with a thumping majority. And, most of the officials to be picked up by Obama are expected to be the experienced hands who had worked under the Clinton regime till eight years ago.

Those close to Obama claim that new Cabinet announcements may start trickling out by next week.

Sydney - There's an Obama blend at Campos Coffee in the hip Sydney suburb of Newtown, and on Wednesday, proprietor Will Young and his baristas were serving little else.

"The boss is a big fan of Barack Obama," Young said over the hiss of Italian machines that kick out 800 cups a day. "There's no McCain blend here."

And there were precious few Senator John McCain supporters at Sydney University's Manning Bar, where a sell-out crowd of 1,200 not only watched but appeared on CNN coverage of the US presidential election won by Senator Obama.

"We weren't expecting the size of this victory," said US expatriate Jesse Dart. "It was pretty much all over before we got to the West Coast."

Washington, Nov 5 : After his victory, Barack Obama will inherit problems of historic proportions, with people at home expecting him to revive an economy experiencing some of the worst shocks in more than half a century.

Abroad, he has pledged to end the war in Iraq and defeat al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. He ran on a platform to change the country and its politics. Now he must begin to spell out exactly how.