http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7678788.stm
US President George W Bush's first Secretary of State, Colin Powell, has endorsed Democratic election candidate Barack Obama for the White House.
He backed his fellow African-American over John McCain, the Republican Party's choice to succeed Mr Bush in the 4 November election.
He told NBC Mr Obama had the "ability to inspire" and was "inclusive".
"All Americans... not just African-Americans" would be proud of an Obama win, he argued.