'The Black Kennedy'

London - The world's media on Wednesday hailed Barack Obama's election as the first black president as a major milestone in US history, saying it offered a chance to restore America's standing.

Click here to see more newspapers celebrating Obama's victory from around the world.

"One Giant Leap for Mankind", ran the front-page headline on the mass-market British tabloid The Sun, while the Independent had a picture of the Democratic presidential-elect with the headline "The History Man".

"So often crudely caricatured by others, the American people yesterday stood in the eye of history and made an emphatic choice for change for themselves and the world," said the left-leaning Guardian.

The right-of-centre Times hailed the huge turnout in the elections as proof of the energy and expectations of a "rejuvenated American democracy" - and described the results of that democracy as "head-spinning".

"The country regarded loftily by many Europeans as hopelessly racist and irredeemably right wing has voted to be ruled by a black man, at the head of a party committed to economic redistribution and a foreign policy rooted in peaceful diplomatic engagement," the newspaper said.

While the result came too late for morning newspapers in Asia, China's evening dailies splashed with photos of a beaming Obama, with the Legal Evening News proclaiming him as "the first black American president".

Major US newspapers said that Obama must now seize the opportunity to reverse some of the damage wrought by George W Bush to America's reputation.

"Mr Obama cannot erase Mr Bush's legacy, but he has a chance to improve America's standing in the world, ending such noxious practices as torture and indefinite detention with minimal review that have diminished this country in the eyes of its allies," said the Washington Post.

In Spain, El Pais said that Obama's victory was a chance to turn the page after a presidency characterised by "eight years of incompetence and abuses."

In Germany, where Obama's popularity was highlighted when 200 000 turned out to hear him speak in July, newspapers said that the world was looking to him for leadership.

"Good morning, Mr President! Make the world better," Germany's mass circulation Bild said, calling on the new president "to get the economy going... achieve peace in Iraq... save the world... close Guantanamo... fight for the weak... and stay true to Israel."

In Israel itself, the left-leaning Haaretz newspaper said that Obama's best chance to make the Middle East peace process work was by pushing Israel to leaving the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 war and then unilaterally annexed.

"Only active American leadership, to move the process forward and support it through security arrangements and economic aid, can break this stalemate," it said. "Even then, there is no guarantee of success, but at the moment, your best shot at a Nobel Peace Prize lies between Jerusalem and Damascus."

In Lebanon, newspapers were unanimous in their support for Obama, with the pro-Syrian Al-Akhbar newspaper proclaiming: "The Black Kennedy at the White House."

In Egypt, a key Middle Eastern ally of the United States, the state-owned Egyptian Gazette was printed before the results were announced with the headline "World hopes for a 'less arrogant' America."

The New York Times however said that people should not overburden Obama with expectation, saying he "inherits a terrible legacy".

"The nation's many challenges are beyond the reach of any one man, or any one political party."

- SAPA