The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ferrying poultry birds banned: Special ward opened at Chest Hospital to treat Avian-influenza cases, same measures to follow in dists

A woman poultry farmer laments culling of chickens
in her farm by officials of livestock and District
Administration at Netrakona on Saturday. Banglar
Chokh

Staff Reporter

The Special Assistant to the CA for Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Manik Lal Samaddar yesterday said that the spread of Avian Influenza in Bangladesh's poultry sector was not much alarming than the neighbouring India.

He said the government has taken adequate steps to combat the spread of bird flu.

At a press briefing yesterday at the Ministry conference room Samaddar informed newsmen that bird flu has so far affected some 3,26,844 chickens in 48 thanas in 29 districts and six metropolitan cities.

All the affected chickens from 93 poultry farms were culled by the Livestock Department, he said.

The Special Assistant said the Livestock Ministry is coordinating with Health Ministry to check spreading of the avian influenza to human body. "If people are affected with avian influenza, it would create hindrance to manpower export," he observed.

Samaddar said the livestock department is monitoring the situation at the field level and taking prompt action against the spread of the avian influenza in both government and private poultry farms.

He said the government has already alerted BDR so that poultry birds, eggs and equipment could not enter the country from India.

Some 11 spray centres have been operating at the entry points of the borders where the incoming vehicles are being sprayed as part of preventive measures, he said.

The Special Assistant informed that a special ward has already been opened to examine the virus in human body at the Institute of Diseases and Chest Hospital in the city.

Some 803 people were sent to hospital for testing avian influenza but the virus was not detected in their bodies.

Samaddar requested owners of poultry farms to come forward to tackle the situation saying that it is not possible to overcome the situation alone by the government.

Secretary to the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Syed Ataur Rahman, Director General of the Livestock Department Sunil Chandra Ghosh and Prof Mahmudur Rahman of Ministry of Health were present, among others, at the briefing.

Meanwhile, the government has discouraged citizens from buying poultry and poultry products until further instruction.

The ferrying of poultry birds in the capital has already been banned.

In the wake of spread of the deadly bird flu virus, the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) yesterday requested the city dwellers not to buy any fowls from hawkers.

Besides, the DCC suggested the city dwellers to keep children away from fowls as precautionary measures.

The government has taken precautionary measures in the wake of massive spread of bird flu in the Indian state of West Bengal. In spite of it, avian influenza affected chickens have been detected in 26 districts of the country. In such a situation, special precautionary measures have been taken in the capital.

Apart from stopping selling of fowls visiting door-to-door, the DCC has called upon the city dwellers not to allow the sellers to enter their houses.

The DCC also requested the city dwellers to contact with the Civil Surgeon offices or Live Stock offices if any affected chicken or bird is found.

Missions abroad must do economic diplomacy: Riyadh embassy asked to take up detained workers' issue

Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment yesterday asked the Bangladesh Embassy in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to take-up the issue of detaining and deporting Bangladeshi workers and businessmen from the country, with the concerned government authorities immediately.

The Ministry gave the directives following press reports on reported harassment of the Bangladeshi workers by the KSA law enforcing agencies.

KSA is a big manpower market for Bangladesh and a major part of Bangladesh's foreign exchange earnings from manpower export comes from the oil rich country.

Reports from KSA say that law-enforcing agencies have detained more than five hundred workers in the last two weeks. They have deported more than a hundred Bangladeshi workers and the remaining detained workers are waiting or the same fate, according to the reports.

The KSA police alleged that the e Bangladeshi workers were engaging themselves in business illegally instead of working inline with their work permits. They engaged themselves in different business including recycling of metal. This has allegedly increased theft in KSA and many people lost their metallic materials including doors and windows.

Nearly 15 lakh Bangladeshis are now working in KSA. Last year nearly 2.04 lakh Bangladesh people went to KSA on employment.

In the recent past Bangladesh faced crisis on Manpower export to Malaysia and Kuwait. The problem still persists and many Bangladeshi workers are facing problems in getting the jobs premised by the recruiting agencies, sources said.

Knowledgeable quarters have asked for utilizing the services of the Bangladesh missions abroad to promote the economic interests of the country. Conventional diplomacy has little value in the present age of global economic competition. The missions abroad should thus be geared to serve the best economic interests of the country.

In respect of Middle East countries the country's interest would be best served by helping Bangladeshi workers incase they face problems. They deserve the service being the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country.

HC issues twin rules: Why EC won’t be directed to hold polls within 90 days

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Sunday issued rule upon the Election Commission (EC) to explain why its failure to hold general election within 90 days after the parliament was dissolved should not be declared illegal.

The High Court also asked the EC to show cause why it should not be directed to hold general election within the 90-day constitutional timeframe.

A division bench comprising Justice Shah Abu Nayeem Mominur Rahman and Justice Shahidul Islam issued the twin rule upon a writ petition filed by Masood R Sobhan, a Supreme Court lawyer.

Another report adds: The Council of Advisers of the caretaker government Sunday approved in principle a proposal empowering the Election Commission to announce date of Upazila Parishad election instead of announcement by the government.

Moreover, it approved another proposal for abolishing the existing provision of an elected MP of the respective area being Adviser to the Upazila Parishad.

The measure has been taken to avoid impediment to exercise of responsibilities of the elected representatives of the Local Government.

As per the standing rules, the Upazila Parishad has to accept the advice of the MP concerned.

A regular weekly meeting of the council of advisers, with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair, endorsed these proposals through approving, in principle, some amendments to the Upazila Parishad Act 1998. Five amendments have been brought in the existing law.

The meeting asked the Law Ministry for vetting the amendments and place again before the council-of-advisers meeting.

Political dialogue: Govt, parties at loggerheads

Shahdilul Islam

Commerce and Education Adviser Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman yesterday said the Government was taking preparations for holding the dialogue with political parties with a view to arrive at a consensus on pressing national issues.

"The Government will sit with the political parties immediately after the completion of preparation, for which we need sometimes," he told journalists after attending a ceremony at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) at Gulshan in the city.

The BEI yesterday launched a report titled the "State of Democracy in South Asia".

"The Government will sit with each of the political parties separately," the Adviser said, adding that the Caretaker Government wants to present a vibrant and balanced economy to the next elected Government.

Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, who mooted the political dialogue on January 12, told Bangladeshi media team covering the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2008 in Davos in Switzerland on Saturday that the state of emergency would be lifted gradually, but the political parties have certain responsibilities and need to establish accountability through reforms.

The Chief Adviser's statement is being considered by front ranking political leaders as a precondition, which the political parties should have to agree upon during the political dialogue and they seem to be dismissive of his comment.

Acting President of the Awami League (AL) Zillur Rahman yesterday said his party would neither set any precondition to sit for dialogue with the Government nor join the talks if any precondition was set by the other side.

"Awami League will not go to the proposed dialogue with any precondition. We want successful dialogue for holding the parliamentary election in a free and fair manner," Zillur Rahman told journalists at his Gulshan residence after receiving relief materials from AL chapters of Italy and New Jersey, USA for Sidr victims.

Appreciating the Government for holding the political dialogue, the AL leader said holding the dialogue between the Government and political parties was mooted by the AL first.

"It is good that the Government has accepted our proposal," Zillur Rahman said, asserting, "The political parties should be allowed to move at their own will….And should not try to control the political parties."

Influential AL Presidium member Tofail Ahmed warned that the proposed political dialogue would not be successful if the Government sets precondition for political parties.

"I think the government is working as per demand of political parties," he said.

BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, earlier, said the two detained former Prime Ministers-BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and AL President Sheikh Hasina-should be freed and invited to the dialogue in order to ensure the success of the talks."Participation of the two former Prime Ministers will enrich the dialogue and make it successful," he told journalists, asking the Government to sit with the political parties immediately without any delay.

BNP Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed echoed the view expressed by the senior AL leaders, saying, "Political parties will not join the dialogue if there are any pre-condition set.

He, however, expressed the opinion that the state of emergency would not hamper the political dialogue.

But, pro-Khandaker Delwar BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said the dialogue would not be successful if it was held under the state of emergency whether it was free of any precondition set by the Government or not.

Gano Forum President Dr Kamal Hossain has urged the political parties to sit among themselves before going for the dialogue with the Government.

"The inter-party talks will help the political leaders to arrive at a political consensus on national issues and free the dialogue with the Government from possible complexities," the renowned arbitrator opined.

Hasina's trial begins Wednesday: Azam J Chy to testify before court Jan 30

Staff Reporter

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed January 30 and 31 for hearing an extortion case against detained Awami League president and former premier Sheikh Hasina after the Supreme Court cleared the decks for her trial by lifting a High Court stay early this week.

Metropolitan Sessions Judge M Azizul Huque will record the depositions in the case on January 30 and January 31 at his makeshift court in parliament building complex where the Awami League leader is detained in a temporary jail since she was arrested in July under military-backed government's anti-graft drive.

State counsel ABM Sarkar Sharfuddin Khan Mukul said plaintiff of the case businessman Azam J Chowdhury would testify before the court on January 30.

The High Court had on January 17 stayed the trial after Hasina's counsels contended that the case should not proceed under emergency rules since the the incident had taken place between 1996-2000 when she was in office, years before the state of emergency was imposed.

Hasina was arrested after businessman Azam J Chowdhury alleged that she extorted Tk 2.99 crore from him through her cousin former Health Minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim after threatening to cancel a power plant project.

Hasina has denied the charge and her party claimed the case was part of a conspiracy to prevent her from contesting elections.

Meanwhile, Chowdhury told reporters this that he did file the case "against Sheikh Hasina." He said Selim took the money from him in return for a deal and told him that he would get the deal done with the help of Hasina.

"I had not paid the money to Hasina. Nor did she demand it from me," he said.

Soon after assuming office in Jan last year, the interim government announced a massive anti-graft drive which has led to 52 high profile personalities, mostly politicians, being jailed, 21 of them for 10 years or more.

Meanwhile, Barrister Shafique Ahmed, a top counsel for the Awami League president, on Sunday filed an application before the High Court for quashing the case.

After filing the application, Barrister Shafique told reporters that after examining the FIR (First Information Report), charge sheet and other related documents, there have been found no ingredients to lodge allegation of extortion against Hasina. Hasina has been shown arrested in the "cooked-up case only to harass her and with a mala fide intention", the counsel said. He further contended that nothing found in the case that there has been any contact either directly or indirectly between Hasina and the complainant, Azam Chowdhury.

The motion will come up for hearing according to serial before a division bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice M A Hye, the counsel informed..

India to sell rice at less than $500 per ton: Food Ministry, Indian HC officials meet today

Staff Reporter

Import of rice from India will cost less than US$ 500 per ton, said Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty yesterday.

"Bangladesh can import rice from India at less than US$500 per ton. The Indian government has fixed export prices of rice at US$500 per ton which is not applicable to Bangladesh," he told reporters after attending the monthly luncheon meeting of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at Sonargaon Hotel in the city.

"But, Bangladesh will have to import rice through the designated state-controlled agencies, not through the private parties, because the private parties drive up prices once it is opened to them. It's not only in our interest, but also in your interest," he said.

The Indian High Commissioner's comment came at a time when the Bangladesh government made significant progress in importing rice from different countries in the wake of sudden rice price hike by the Indian government as well as procuring 5 lakh metric tons of rice through the World Food Programme.

During his visit to Bangladesh after the Cyclone Sidr affected the country's southern districts, Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee announced that India would sell 5 lakh metric tones of rice to Bangladesh at lower than international market prices. But, suddenly the Indian government fixed the minimum export prices of rice at US$500 per ton, which resulted in abnormal price hike of rice in local markets.

It is learnt that the Ministry of Food will hold a meeting with the Indian High Commission officials in Dhaka today (Monday) to discuss about import of 5 lakh metric tones of rice from India.

Addressing the FICCI luncheon meeting, the Indian High Commissioner called for opening up more trade routes between Bangladesh and India to promote bilateral trade and economic development.

"We need to move forward with proposals for improving connectivity - road, rail, airways, shipping and inland waterways," he said.

FICCI president Wali Bhuiyan welcomed the foreign investors doing business in Bangladesh at the meeting.

Chakravarty said India is ready to move at a faster pace to strengthen connectivity and expects similar response from Bangladesh.

He also stressed the need for focussing more on promoting mutual investments and technology collaborations as foreign investors seek fair, transparent process and predictable policy regime.

"I'm aware the government of Bangladesh is committed to facilitate investments in Bangladesh," the Indian High Commissioner said, adding that there were significant proposals from Indian industrial giants to invest in the country.

He said there were other small and medium sized Indian firms, who would be interested in investing in Bangladesh that hold considerable potential for increasing exports to India and thus addressing the trade imbalance.

In 2006-07, Bangladesh imported goods worth over US$ 2.5 billion as compared to its exports of only US$ 290 million.

Chakravarty said India recognised the need for addressing the trade imbalance and the perceived non-tariff barriers, and both sides were looking at ways and means to address both.

Replying to a question whether cooperation in real term is possible with mistrust between the peoples of the two countries, he said the mistrust would not be removed "unless we start working together."

"We're ready to join hand and to reconnect… it's your country's political leadership to take the decision in this regard," he said, adding that one cannot do it overnight.

Replying to another question, the Indian envoy said the procedure to export 8 million pieces of apparel items from Bangladesh to India at reduced tariff is almost done and only some bureaucratic process was pending. It could take place after the next meeting of the Indian cabinet.

He told a questioner that India has a plan to reduce its negative list of products from over 700 items to 200, but readymade garments would still be in the list.

Suharto dead

Former Indonesian President Suharto

AFP, Jakarta

Former Indonesian President Suharto, the U.S. Cold War ally who led one of the 20th century's most brutal dictatorships over 32 years that saw up to a million political opponents killed, died Sunday. He was 86.

Suharto had been ailing in a hospital in the capital, Jakarta, since Jan. 4 when he was admitted with failing kidneys, heart and lungs. Doctors prolonged his life through dialysis and a ventilator, but he stopped breathing on his own overnight before slipping into a coma Sunday.

He was declared dead at 1:10 p.m. when his heart stopped. The cause of death was multiple-organ failure, Chief Presidential Dr. Marjo Subiandono said.

"My father passed away peacefully," sobbed Suharto's eldest daughter, Tutut. "May God bless him and forgive all of his mistakes."

As is customary in Islamic tradition, Suharto's body was to be washed and joint prayers were held at the family home in the presence of his six children, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and dozens of the country's ruling elite.

Yudhoyono's office declared a week of national mourning and he was to oversee a state funeral Monday once Suharto's body had been flown by a fleet of 11 Air Force planes to be placed in the family mausoleum.

Finally toppled by mass street protests in 1998, Suharto's departure opened the way for democracy in this predominantly Muslim nation of 235 million people and he withdrew from public life, rarely venturing from his comfortable villa on a leafy lane in the capital.

Suharto had ruled with a totalitarian dominance that saw soldiers stationed in every village, instilling a deep fear of authority across this Southeast Asian nation of some 6,000 inhabited islands that stretch across more than 3,000 miles.

During the Cold War, Suharto was considered a reliable friend of Washington, which didn't oppose his violent occupation of Papua in 1969 and the bloody 1974 invasion of East Timor. The latter, a former Portuguese colony, became Asia's youngest country with a U.N.-sponsored plebiscite in 1999.

Suharto's wife of 49 years, Indonesian royal Siti Hartinah, died in 1996. The couple had three sons and three daughters.

TI says, UN graft Convention to be a 'dead letter’

Special Correspondent

As nearly 140 UN Member States head to Bali to kick off a conference today about the future of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) -the global road-map for eradicating corruption- Transparency International (TI) Chair Huguette Labelle cautions that "without the development of a concrete plan to assess country progress in implementing the treaty, the convention will be nothing more than a dead letter, robbing the most vulnerable of their best chance at a better life".

Ahead of the meeting of convention signatories, the so-called Conference of States Parties (CoSP), Transparency International released a position paper with specific technical recommendations for a long-range, phased review of country progress. The paper notes, that in a globalised world, the UNCAC offers the only global framework for cooperation on anti-corruption measures, setting out universally agreed standards for government performance, says a message received from Berlin yesterday.

Efforts at assessing country progress to date, through self-reporting, have been lacklustre, with barely half of signatory countries participating. "Our work has shown us that only through a transparent programme of mutual evaluation will countries take such an instrument seriously, and get serious about implementing it," said Gillian Dell of Transparency International. "That's why we're pushing for dates and concrete plans about how the states parties to the convention want to assess the success of their implementation. This meeting here in Indonesia is the moment".

Commenting on the concerns of some countries, Dell continued, "The fact is, that this is an opportunity for governments to demonstrate their accountability and their commitment to fighting corruption".

Lack of government commitment still plagues the UNCAC, for example the failure of G8 member states Germany, Italy and Japan to ratify the convention four years after signing it and despite numerous G8 summit pledges to do so. The absence of ratifications from global financial centres Singapore, Switzerland and Liechtenstein also casts doubt on their commitment to integrity in the financial market. A number of signatory countries have not even made the effort to send a representative to the Bali conference.

Beyond ratification, TI also urged the private sector, whose activities are subject to the provisions of the convention and whose interests are ultimately served by it, to actively support the UNCAC and a strong review mechanism. Civil society involvement remains crucial to the success of the convention, in its adoption, implementation and in its review. Their participation is enshrined in the convention, but the willingness of the states parties to guarantee this is uneven, with some governments exhibiting direct hostility to citizens exercising their right to voice critical opinions, the message adds.

Call to review CHT treaty

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion meeting yesterday demanded of the government to review the Chittagong Hill Tracts Treaty (CHTT) saying the treaty contradicts with the Constitution of the country.

Speakers demanded this at a roundtable conference on 'Reviewing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Treaty According to the Constitution' organised by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Equal Rights Movement at the National Press Club.

Speakers said many provisions of the treaty contradict many articles of the Constitution and were discriminatory to the Bangalis in the hills.

BNP leaders Lt Gen (Retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Rizvi Ahmed, Awami League leader Maj Gen (Retd) Subid Ali Bhuyian, Jatiya Ganotantrik Party President Shafiul Alam Prodhan, NAP President Mostak Ahmed, tribal peoples' representative Rup Kumar Chakma, among others, spoke at the meeting, presided over by journalist Sadek Khan. Advocate Tajul Islam read out the keynote paper.

Gen Mahbub said though ten years have passed the peace did not come to the hills. "Army should not be withdrawn from the CHT as they had done a lot for the development of the region," said Gen Mahbub.

He said time has come to review the treaty.

Gen Subid Ali said the CHTT was signed at a dreadful situation in the hills and after ten years of the treaty peace has come to the hills to some extent.

"No treaty is perfect. So the CHTT should be implemented even after revision of some of the provisions to maintain peace in that region," he said about the emand of review of the CHTT.

About the allegation that India was responsible for creating unrest in the CHT Gen Subid Ali said, "India is no enemy to us. Friendly relationship with the neighbouring country should be maintained."

Rizvi Ahmed said the CHTT has questioned the sovereignty and independence of the country as a big portion of the country was let to a small portion of ethnic people.

"Equal rights among the Bangalis and tribal people should be established in the hills by reviewing the CHTT," he said.

Advocate Tajul Islam in his paper said the CHTT contradicts with the articles 1,6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 36, 42, 55, 56, 59, 66, 94, 106, 122 and 145 of the Constitution.

He said the Bangalis in the hills were repressed by the CHTT.

Delimitation of constituencies: Timing cause of concern, say political parties

Rafiqul Islam Azad

Most political parties are sceptical about the Election Commission's planned delimitation of parliamentary constituencies as they apprehend the move might delay the forthcoming elections much beyond the timeframe of the polls roadmap.

Some political parties, however, believed that the delimitation of constituencies after each of the population census report is obligatory, as per law of the land and it should be done.

They felt that the delimitation should be carried out to remove the discrepancies between constituencies but it would have been good to consult all parties before initiating such a move.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda, earlier, told reporters that the Commission would carry out delimitation on the basis of the latest census report to rationalise the constituencies. The Commission has alternatives in its hand to resolve complexities arising out of the planned delimitation, he added.

The Election Commission (EC), earlier, announced its election roadmap to hold the elections by the end of this year.

Awami League Presidium Member Tofail Ahmed told The New Nation that if the EC carries out delimitation this time, the election might be delayed as there are possibilities of filing cases by aggrieved people of the constituencies concerned.

The Election Commission has taken the initiative at such a time when there is not much time left for the polls. If the move is carried out aggrieved persons can file cases that will delay the elections, he said.

The AL leader said if the EC saw the urgency of doing it, it could have taken the initiative immediately after taking office.

The delimitation is not necessary ahead of the forthcoming elections, he opined.

BNP Joint Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan said it is the duty of the Caretaker Government to hold the elections in time.

Why it became so important when there is no necessity of delimitation and no demand was made from any quarters, he questioned saying that the entire matter is difficult to understand.

Referring to the delay in holding the elections of Dhaka City Corporation for three years from the schedule time when Mayor Hanif was in office due to filing of cases by the aggrieved persons over refixing the boundaries of the DCC's wards, the BNP leader said there is reason to be anxious if the delimitation process delays the forthcoming polls.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed said the EC itself should think whether it would be appropriate to carry out extra task as its responsibility is to hold the elections in time.

The election cannot be taken out from the roadmap in any circumstance. The nation will not accept it, he said.

Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon said the delimitation of constituencies is obligatory according to the law but it would have been better if it was done at first.

He said if the EC is carrying out the move the election would be delayed.

"It will not be wise to carry on the planned delimitation of constituencies," he observed.

Jatiya Party (Ershad) Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader termed the move appropriate and timely, as it would remove the discrepancies between continuances.

"The voter will be benefited if the constituencies are re-defined on the basis of population," he observed.

Asked whether there is any possibility of delay in holding the elections if someone files case against the process of delimitation he said it would not affect the entire election; rather elections to some constituencies might be disrupted.

But it will not create any obstacle to hand over power to the party or alliance, which will gain majority of seats in the elections, he explained.

President of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) is of the opinion that the delimitation of constituencies should be carried out but it would have been better had it been done earlier.

He, however, said that the EC should hold discussions with the political parties before carrying out the task.

Obama triumphs in South Carolina

BBC Online

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has secured a decisive win in the South Carolina primary election, as he bids to be the Democratic Party's candidate.

The Illinois senator beat his main rival, Hillary Clinton by 55% to 27%, with John Edwards third on 18%.

The result is a boost for Mr Obama's campaign ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states vote for who they want to run for US president.

Republicans are campaigning for their next primary, in Florida on Tuesday.

Smiling broadly as he greeted supporters at a victory rally

in the state capital, Columbia, Mr Obama delivered a rousing message of unity and hope.

"The choice in this election is not about regions or religions or genders," he said. "It's not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it is not about black versus white.

"This election is about the past versus the future."

Mr Obama referred to his win in the first contest, the Iowa caucuses, saying that the faith Democratic voters had shown in him then had been borne out in the result in South Carolina.

"Tonight the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was an illusion were told a different story. "

Looking forward to Super Tuesday, he went on: "In nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business as usual in Washington, we are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again."

Stressing his differences from the candidates representing the "status quo in Washington", he appeared to criticise the Clinton campaign for using divisive tactics.

"It's a status quo that extends beyond a particular party, and that status quo is fighting back with everything it's got, with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face," he said.

Key to Mr Obama's victory was the support of African-American voters, who made up about half the electorate and four-fifths of whom supported him, according to exit poll data. About 17% supported Mrs Clinton.

Now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee and the other states voting on 5 February

Hillary Clinton

Mr Obama also won about a quarter of the white vote, compared to just under 40% each for Mrs Clinton and Mr Edwards.

Mrs Clinton's campaign issued a statement saying she had called to congratulate Mr Obama and wish him well.

Mrs Clinton, who was on her way to Nashville, Tennessee, before the votes were counted, told a rally: "Now the eyes of the country turn to Tennessee and the other states voting on 5 February."

The primaries would mean "millions and millions of Americans are going to have their voices heard", she added.

Former President Bill Clinton, who has been campaigning on behalf of his wife, told a rally in Missouri that Mr Obama had "won fair and square".

Voting in South Carolina was brisk, producing a record turn-out of more than 530,000. By comparison, the turn-out for the 2004 Democratic primary was 280,000.

The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in South Carolina says the result gives an important lift to Mr Obama's campaign after consecutive defeats by Mrs Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 2,025 delegates

Most are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucuses

Delegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee

It also sets the stage for a fierce battle between the two front-runners on Super Tuesday, he adds.

The fact that Mrs Clinton spent part of the week campaigning outside South Carolina signalled that she was not expecting to win there, correspondents say.

Mr Edwards, a native of South Carolina who won there in his failed run for the presidential nomination in 2004, has failed to improve on his second place to Mr Obama in Iowa at the start of January.

Correspondents say both parties' contests for the presidential nomination are so close that they could continue for weeks after Super Tuesday this year.

Once the candidate for each party has been selected, they will compete head-to-head to win the presidential election in November.