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UK supporters marking 'Obama Day' UK supporters marking 'Obama Day'
(10 minutes later)
People are gathering across the UK to celebrate the inauguration of the first black president of the US, Barack Obama.People are gathering across the UK to celebrate the inauguration of the first black president of the US, Barack Obama.
BBC News' Anna-Louise Taylor is reporting from events being held to mark the historic day.BBC News' Anna-Louise Taylor is reporting from events being held to mark the historic day.
Gina Moffatt joined in the children's celebrations by having her face painted 1600 GMT: MADAME TUSSAUDS US citizens were given free entry to see Mr Obama's waxwork
Many US citizens who are not on American soil decided to seek out the next best thing to meeting Obama in person.
That is, having their photo taken with the wax figure of the incoming president in Madame Tussauds.
The London landmark offered all US citizens free entry if they showed their passports at the door, attracting thousands.
Student Whitney Prior, 21, from Chicago, said she was "really excited".
"It's a dream come true for me - to see Obama in office, not the figure I mean!
"Obama used to live in the neighbourhood, so I've seen him in the neighbourhood in Chicago, and I've voted for him two times. The figure does look like him!"
Quinn Lewandowski, 21, is a student from Pittsburgh. "I love Barack Obama," he said.
"I wish I could be there today, it's only down the road from Pittsburgh.
"Most of my friends are going to the inauguration and I wanted to mark it in some way."
Michael Durikas, 28 from New York, said: "It's a new shot, a chance to undo the last eight years and take the country in a new direction.
"I think it's great to see. I've voted three times and this is the first time someone I voted for got it."
1400 GMT: BERNIE GRANT ARTS CENTRE, TOTTENHAM Gina Moffatt joined in the children's celebrations by having her face painted
About 400 members of the black community are expected at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, north London.About 400 members of the black community are expected at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre in Tottenham, north London.
They will be enjoying traditional African and Caribbean food and music, as well as watching the events unfold on a big screen.They will be enjoying traditional African and Caribbean food and music, as well as watching the events unfold on a big screen.
Gina Moffatt, 32, is a caterer and took her children in this morning to get their faces painted - ahen she decided to join in too. Gina Moffatt, 32, is a caterer and took her children in this morning to get their faces painted - then she decided to join in too.
"My kids came down this morning and got it done and I thought: "I want something! "My kids came down this morning and got it done and I thought: 'I want something!'
"I went to Tesco with it done and everyone was waving and celebrating at the tills. I wanted to get into the spirit of it.""I went to Tesco with it done and everyone was waving and celebrating at the tills. I wanted to get into the spirit of it."
Community worker Nia Bellot, 40, took her seven-year-old son El-Hajj along so that he could "always remember a piece of history".Community worker Nia Bellot, 40, took her seven-year-old son El-Hajj along so that he could "always remember a piece of history".
"I wanted him to celebrate the day, this historic occasion, it's especially historic for him as a black child," she said."I wanted him to celebrate the day, this historic occasion, it's especially historic for him as a black child," she said.
"They won't do anything about it at school and as a parent I thought it was important to give him this memory."Nia Bellot wanted son, El-Hajj, to remember the 'historic occasion'"They won't do anything about it at school and as a parent I thought it was important to give him this memory."Nia Bellot wanted son, El-Hajj, to remember the 'historic occasion'
Maria Oniah, 60, from the Nigerian Organisation of Women took her grand-daughter Lemena, six, along to witness the inauguration.Maria Oniah, 60, from the Nigerian Organisation of Women took her grand-daughter Lemena, six, along to witness the inauguration.
Mrs Oniah said: "He has the leadership qualities, he's got the stamina, he can listen, he has good qualities and - hopefully - policies.Mrs Oniah said: "He has the leadership qualities, he's got the stamina, he can listen, he has good qualities and - hopefully - policies.
"I think he'll talk well about the current crisis - the credit crunch, that's number one - the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and I hope he'll talk about peace in the world and race equality.""I think he'll talk well about the current crisis - the credit crunch, that's number one - the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and I hope he'll talk about peace in the world and race equality."
The Bernie Grant Arts Centre was named after the Guyana-born politician who became Europe's first black council leader in Haringey in 1985, and later served as a Labour MP.The Bernie Grant Arts Centre was named after the Guyana-born politician who became Europe's first black council leader in Haringey in 1985, and later served as a Labour MP.
And the event has been used to launch Bernie's List, a project aimed at getting more Black and Asian people into Parliament.And the event has been used to launch Bernie's List, a project aimed at getting more Black and Asian people into Parliament.
Dawn Butler MP said: "This is about getting grass roots people, people Bernie represented, I represent, and Obama represents, into politics, and making change.Dawn Butler MP said: "This is about getting grass roots people, people Bernie represented, I represent, and Obama represents, into politics, and making change.
"We have enough qualified, talented Black and Asian people and we want to get them into Parliament.""We have enough qualified, talented Black and Asian people and we want to get them into Parliament."