Millions of Americans flocked to the polls on Tuesday to elect Democrat Barack Obama as the country's first black president.

Here is a timeline of one extraordinary day that made history:

  • Midnight (0500 GMT): Two tiny towns in the far eastern state of New Hampshire, Dixville Notch and Hart's Location, kick-off the day's voting by opening their polling stations.

  • As day breaks across the country, millions of Americans line up outside polling stations.

  • 07.40am (1340 GMT): Obama casts his vote in his home city of Chicago. His vice-presidential running mate, Senator Joe Biden, votes in his home state of Delaware. Obama then heads to Indiana for the final stop of his 21-month campaign.

  • 09.18 (1618 GMT): Republican candidate John McCain votes in Phoenix, Arizona, while his running mate, Sarah Palin, casts her vote in her home town of Wasilla, Alaska. McCain then holds a rally in Colorado, and visits New Mexico.

  • 6.00pm (2300 GMT): The first polling stations close in parts of Indiana and Kentucky, but no results are yet available.

  • 7.30 pm (0030 GMT): US networks declared McCain the winner in West Virginia, while the swing state of Ohio is said to be too close to call.

  • 8.00pm (0100 GMT): Obama takes the key state of Pennsylvania, networks report. Virginia is reported too close to call.

  • 9.30pm (0230 GMT): Obama is projected to take Ohio, which has voted for every president since 1960.

  • 11.00pm (0400 GMT): Obama is declared the winner by US networks.

  • 11.20 (0420 GMT): McCain concedes defeat and takes the blame.

  • Midnight (0500 GMT): Obama addresses a crowd of 240 000 people at a giant victory celebration in Grant Park, Chicago and says "change has come" to America.

Click HERE for Obama's speech in video or leave a comment below about the US elections!

AFP

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