Asia celebrates Obama's historic win

MANILA: Champagne corks popped across Asia as former schoolmates in Indonesia, the Japanese town of Obama and thousands of American expats Wednesday celebrated Barack Obama's historic election as US president.

Bars were packed in cities from Beijing to Sydney as election fever gripped the region amid the Democratic candidate's win over Republican John McCain.

The champagne also flowed in the Philippines, where a group of Democrats celebrated Obama's victory in a modest home in up market Manila.

An ocean away from the United States, the ancient Japanese fishing town of Obama rejoiced with hula dancers, ecstatic chanting and some rock 'n' roll in honour of its namesake.

In the Japanese capital Tokyo, people spoke of their hopes for the future after Obama's win.

In Hong Kong, cheers erupted at the packed Foreign Correspondents' Club as Obama was declared the winner. Guests were glued to US tv for hours awaiting the results.

In Afghanistan, where tens of thousands of US soldiers are still fighting Al-Qaeda remnants and the Taliban, about 150 Americans, Afghans and US embassy staff watched the results come in at the upmarket hotel -- targeted by bombers in January.