200810192194 | Colin Powell backs Obama

Colin Powell backs Obama

Washington - Former secretary of state and military General Colin Powell on Sunday endorsed Democrat Barack Obama's White House bid, in a stinging rebuff to Republican candidate John McCain.

The former chair of the joint chiefs of staff expressed disquiet over the rightward shift the Republican Party has taken under McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin - who he said was not ready to be president.

Powell, on NBC programme Meet the Press, said Obama had "met the standard" to lead "because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America".

"I think he would be a transformational president. For that reason I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama," said Powell, who was the first African-American to occupy the top US military post.

Should the mixed-race Obama win on November 4, "all Americans should be proud, not just African-Americans", he added.

"It would not just electrify our country, it would electrify the world."