British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Tuesday
hailed US President Barack Obama as a leader with the determination "to
solve the world's problems."
In a statement marking Obama's inauguration Brown said it heralded a "new
chapter in both American history and the world's history."
Brown praised the new US President as a "man of great vision and moral
purpose" who would tackle the global financial crisis and other problems
such as the environment, dpa reported.
"He's not only the first black American president but he sets out with the
determination to solve the world's problems," Brown said.
Obama knew that these were "extraordinary times with unprecedented
challenges" and had already shown "great courage and boldness"
by setting out plans to combat the financial crisis.
Earlier, Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth II has sent a message of
support to Obama on the eve of his inauguration.
During her reign, which started in 1952, the queen, 82, has met all US presidents with the exception of Lyndon B Johnson. She is expected to meet Obama when he
comes to London for a summit of G20 nations in April.
Details of the private message sent by the monarch on the eve of Obama's
inauguration have not been released.
Brown, in a letter to Obama, said he was "ready to work very closely with
his administration on many of the international challenges we face."
Brown's spokesman played down suggestions that he was in a race with other
European leaders, such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, to be the first to
secure an invitation to visit Obama at the White House.
Meanwhile, US citizens in Britain and African and Afro-Caribbean communities
were laying on parties across the country to celebrate the inauguration.
In London, Berlin, New York and Shanghai waxworks of Obama were on display at
Madame Tussauds' museums.
In London, where US citizens were granted free entry to Madame Tussauds for the
day of the inauguration, people could be seen crowding around Obama's wax
figure.
"It's a big day for me, history in the making," said Michaela, a
22-year-old woman visiting from the United States.