Republicans reach out to minorities

George W Bush watched the convention on TV from an Ohio classroom

The US Republican Party has opened its national convention promising support for America's ethnic minorities.

Party delegates also used the occasion to formally nominated Texas Governor George W Bush as their presidential candidate.

Tuesday's line-up

Gulf War General Norman Schwarzkopf via satellite link from USS New Jersey

Condoleezza Rice on international relations

Elizabeth Dole on 'strength through compassion'

Senator John McCain on military strength

In a keynote speech, retired Gulf War general, Colin Powell, said Mr Bush could "help bridge" the country's racial divide.

Mr Powell is one of the most prominent black US politicians, and his speech was part of the Republicans' efforts to shake off their image as the party of the white and wealthy.

"In pursuing educational reform, as well as in all other parts of his agenda for Texas, Governor Bush has reached out to all Texans - white, black, Latino, Asian, Native American," Mr Powell told the delegates.

Colin Powell: "The party must reach out to minority communities"

The BBC's Rob Watson in Philadelphia says the members of a gospel choir were among many black voices and faces to be seen and heard on the stage of the convention.

But he says that despite the rhetoric, opinion polls show that many black Americans and other minorities regard the Republican Party with suspicion

Mr Powell has been tipped as a likely secretary of state, if Mr Bush were to win in November.

Affirmative action

Several opening-day speakers stressed Mr Bush's determination to "leave no child behind" in modern America.

Laura Bush is usually microphone-shy

Mr Powell, the only African-American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the convention that "the issue of race still casts a shadow over our society," and urged the party to broaden its perspective.

He criticised Republicans who condemned affirmative action, saying it had "helped a few thousand black kids get an education".

Less controversially, he said an America led by George W Bush should reach beyond its shores.

"We must show to the rest of the world the beauty and potential of democracy," he said to applause.

For the first time, many Americans also had a chance to hear the views of Mr Bush's wife Laura.

She also took up the theme of inclusion, stressing the importance of early learning and childhood development programmes.

Bush campaign tour

Mr Bush will formally accept the presidential nomination at the convention on Thursday.

He is currently touring through states that the Republicans have lost in the past two presidential elections.

Mr Bush has a clear lead over his Democratic challenger, Vice-President Al Gore, in the opinion polls.

At the same time, the Democrats have begun running advertisements attacking the voting record of Mr Bush's vice presidential running mate, Dick Cheney, when he was in Congress.

Mr Gore and the Democrats hold their convention in Los Angeles in two weeks' time.