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Obama builds up White House team Obama assembles White House team
(about 5 hours later)
Barack Obama has started forming his administration by asking Rahm Emanuel, a former adviser to President Clinton, to be his chief-of-staff.Barack Obama has started forming his administration by asking Rahm Emanuel, a former adviser to President Clinton, to be his chief-of-staff.
US President-elect Obama is expected to appoint a new treasury secretary soon. US President-elect Obama is next expected to appoint a treasury secretary to tackle the country's economic crisis.
He has until his inauguration on 20 January to select his senior officials. President Bush has pledged his complete co-operation during the transition. He has until his inauguration on 20 January to select his senior officials.
Mr Obama was elected the first black US president on Tuesday with a resounding win over Republican rival John McCain.Mr Obama was elected the first black US president on Tuesday with a resounding win over Republican rival John McCain.
There has been speculation Mr Obama will ask Defence Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his post. Mr Obama's transition team is to be run by John Podesta, a former chief-of-staff to President Bill Clinton; Pete Rouse, who was Mr Obama's Senate chief-of-staff; and close friend Valerie Jarrett.
Mr Gates is broadly respected by both parties and would reflect a more bipartisan administration, says the BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington. No briefings or announcements are expected on Thursday, but Mr Obama's staff said that he would address the media by the end of the week.
Mr Obama's victory was widely welcomed around the world.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called Tuesday's poll historic and said he and Mr Obama "share many values".
Chinese President Hu Jintao said he looked forward to strengthening dialogue. France's Nicolas Sarkozy said the poll had raised "enormous hope".
CIA briefingsCIA briefings
Rahm Emanuel is an Illinois congressman and tough Washington insider who has been strongly criticised by some Republicans for being too partisan, our correspondent says. Mr Emanuel is an Illinois congressman and tough Washington insider who has been strongly criticised by some Republicans for being too partisan, says the BBC's Jane O'Brien in Washington.
Barack Obama speaks to jubilant crowds at his victory rally in Chicago Although he has not formally accepted the job yet, if he does become chief-of-staff, he would be responsible for much of the internal management of the new administration.
If he accepts the position of chief-of-staff, he would be responsible for much of the internal management of the new administration. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 9 Dec: Deadline for states to resolve issues such as recounts or challenges15 Dec: Electoral college electors meet in each state to formally cast their votes6 Jan: Joint session of Congress to count electoral college votesBefore 20 Jan: Barack Obama and Joe Biden must resign from the Senate20 Jan: Inauguration day class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7712622.stm">Transition timetable class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7702408.stm">Profile: Rahm Emanuel class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7707760.stm">Democrats tighten Senate grip class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7712691.stm">Senate races latest
But critics say his appointment could accentuate party divides, rather than heal them, as Mr Obama has pledged. But critics say his appointment could accentuate party divides, rather than heal them, as Mr Obama has pledged to do.
With the country in the throes of an economic slowdown and part of the global financial crisis, the post of treasury secretary will be another key post, our correspondent adds. With the country in the throes of an economic slowdown and part of the global financial crisis, the post of treasury secretary will be a key post.
Likely contenders for the post reportedly include former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and Timothy Geithner, the current head of the New York Federal Reserve. Likely contenders reportedly include former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and Timothy Geithner, the current head of the New York Federal Reserve.
Current Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has pledged to work with Mr Obama to ensure a smooth transition, and is said to have already set up desks and telephone lines at the department where Mr Obama's incoming team can work between now and the inauguration.
There has been speculation Mr Obama will ask Defence Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his post.
Mr Gates is broadly respected by both parties and would reflect a more bipartisan administration, our correspondent says.
With the business of preparing for government under way, Mr Obama will from Thursday start receiving the president's daily CIA briefings, which will include updates on covert operations.With the business of preparing for government under way, Mr Obama will from Thursday start receiving the president's daily CIA briefings, which will include updates on covert operations.
'Unprecedented' In another sign of the changing of the guard, Michelle Obama spoke by telephone with First Lady Laura Bush, who invited her to visit the White House.
Projected results from Tuesday's election have yet to be announced for the states of North Carolina and Missouri, which are believed to be too close to call. Mr Podesta was a key figure in the Clinton administration Projected results from Tuesday's election have yet to be announced for the states of North Carolina and Missouri, which are believed to be too close to call.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 9 Dec: Deadline for states to resolve issues such as recounts or challenges15 Dec: Electoral college electors meet in each state to formally cast their votes6 Jan: Joint session of Congress to count electoral college votesBefore 20 Jan: Barack Obama and Joe Biden must resign from the Senate20 Jan: Inauguration day class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7702408.stm">Profile: Rahm Emanuel class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/results/7697829.stm">Election results in full class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7707760.stm">Democrats tighten Senate grip class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7710108.stm">In pictures: Result reaction But with most precincts tallied, Mr Obama's share of the popular vote stands at 52.4%, compared with Mr McCain's 46.3%.
But with most precincts tallied, Mr Obama's share of the popular vote stands at 52.3%, compared with Mr McCain's 46.4%.
Turnout was reported to be extremely high - in some places "unprecedented" in what many Americans said they felt was a historic election.Turnout was reported to be extremely high - in some places "unprecedented" in what many Americans said they felt was a historic election.
It was predicted that 130 million Americans had voted - the highest turn-out since 1960.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington said that by selecting Mr Obama, Americans had made two fundamental statements about themselves: that they were profoundly unhappy with the status quo; and that they were slamming the door on the racial division of the past.
The entire US House of Representatives and a third of US Senate seats were also contested in Tuesday's elections.The entire US House of Representatives and a third of US Senate seats were also contested in Tuesday's elections.
The Democrats increased their Senate majority by five seats, but fell short of the 60 needed to stop blocking tactics by Republicans. The Democrats increased their Senate majority by five seats to 56, including two independents, but fell short of the 60 needed to stop blocking tactics by Republicans. A further four seats are too close to call.
They also increased their majority in the House of Representatives, gaining 20 seats to give a total 252, leaving the Republicans with 173. The Democrats also increased their majority in the House of Representatives, gaining 19 seats to give a total 254, leaving the Republicans with 173.