In pictures: Obama declares victory

Barack Obama has declared that he will be the US Democratic Party's presidential candidate in November's general election.

It marks a historic moment: he would be the first black nominee for the White House ever to be chosen by a major US political party.

Delirious crowds greeted Senator Obama's victory speech, the culmination of five months of fiercely-fought primary contests.

He urged the almost 20,000 people packed into a sports arena "to unite in common effort to chart a new course for America".

At her own rally, Hillary Clinton refused to concede and said she would make her decision about whether to stay in the race later.

It was an emotional moment for many of her backers, who had hoped against the odds that she would beat Mr Obama to the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

Two of her hardest-working campaigners, daughter Chelsea and husband Bill, watched as she praised Mr Obama's campaign team "for all they accomplished".

Mrs Clinton said she would consult in the coming days with her advisers about what to do next. She won South Dakota's primary while Mr Obama won Montana's - the final two contests.

Meanwhile Senator John McCain, who will fight to keep the White House for the Republicans, targeted Mr Obama in a speech in Louisiana.

But it was Mr Obama's night, as he staked his claim to be nominated by the Democratic Party's national convention in August.

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