Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of the United States.

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America," the president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in Chicago.

His rival John McCain accepted defeat, saying "I deeply admire and commend" Mr Obama. He called on his supporters to lend the next president their goodwill.

The BBC's Justin Webb said the result would have a profound impact on the US.

"On every level America will be changed by this result... [it] will never be the same," he said.

Mr Obama appeared with his family, and his running mate Joe Biden, before a crowd of tens of thousands in Grant Park, Chicago.

Many people in the vast crowd, which stretched back far into the Chicago night, wept as Mr Obama spoke.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer," he said.

He said he had received an "extraordinarily gracious" call from Mr McCain.

He praised the former Vietnam prisoner of war as a "brave and selfless leader".

... pour la réforme de la Fonction Publique

Le Président de la République a, dans la foulée, reçu les membres d’une délégation de la Banque Mondiale composée du fonctionnaire de la Banque mondiale en poste à Madagascar, Monsieur Gunther Heidenhof, accompagné de Monsieur Larbi, Expert en masse salariale sur la Fonction Publique, venus discuter de la réforme de la Fonction Publique malgache.

La rencontre entre les trois personnalités était notamment axée sur  les conditions de mise en place de la Public Service Commission (PSC) initiée par la Présidence de la République, dans la perspective de la dynamisation et  de l’amélioration de la performance des fonctionnaires et agents de l’Etat, ainsi que des services publics malgaches.

... with $30 Million in Additional Financing 

WASHINGTON, October 21, 2008 - The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved an IDA credit in the amount of $30 million to the Republic of Madagascar, representing additional financing for the Rural Development Support Project (RDSP). “This credit will help finance the costs associated with scaled-up activities to enhance the impact of a well-performing ongoing project and contribute to an enhancement of its impact and development effectiveness” explained Paavo Eliste, the project’sTask Team Leader. The objective of the RDSP is to increase incomes and reduce poverty in rural areas, while preserving the country’s natural resource base. The scaled up activities will target additional beneficiaries among the poorer segment of the country’s population.