Barack Obama and is encouraging fellow Democrats to "heal the rift in our party" and unite behind the Illinois senator.

NPR: Superdelegate Swings Vote from Clinton to Obama

His priority must be to heal the rifts within the Republican party and to turn John McCain into an ally, not an enemy.

BBC: The establishment strikes back

He named her as his secretary of state in an attempt to heal the rift within the Democratic party caused by a bruising primary campaign.

BBC: Profile: Hillary Rodham Clinton

They might have talked about other candidates in a way that they would regret, and I think it just gives our party a time to heal and to unite behind one individual.

NPR: GOP Faithful in Colo. Reflect Test Ahead for McCain

Ehud Barak, the defence minister, who leads the Labour party in Israel's ruling coalition, and was recently in Washington trying to heal relations, now says Mr Netanyahu must change his coalition if there is to be serious progress.

ECONOMIST: The two sides move crabwise as indirect negotiations begin

Tension was high during district elections in July - won by Mr Gbagbo's Ivorian Popular Front party - and the latest uprising is another indication that little has been done to heal the wounds inflicted on the country by years of regional and political conflict.

BBC: Central Abidjan

And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

CNN: Transcript: 'This is your victory,' says Obama

"While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress, " Obama said.

CNN: Obama: 'This is your victory'

Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

NPR: Transcript Of Barack Obama's Victory Speech