PHOENIX: Standing under a cool desert sky before thousands of subdued and somewhat petulant supporters, Mr John McCain urged them to back Mr Barack Obama and accept his election as a sign of how much the country has progressed over the past century.

'We have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly,' he said. 'Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it.'

Whatever disagreements he had with the President-elect paled in comparison to what they had in common, he added.

'We are fellow Americans, and please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.'

Mr McCain's concession speech was made at the Phoenix hotel where he and his wife Cindy had their wedding reception three decades ago. He spoke shortly after he telephoned his rival to concede the election, a call which Mr Obama later described as 'extraordinarily gracious'.

The two men had clashed over the Iraq war, taxes, trade and energy policy in the course of a heated, five-month general election campaign, but the Arizona senator on Tuesday night pledged his support for his opponent.

'These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face,' he said.

The soaring, powerful speech marked the re-emergence of the McCain who had largely disappeared from the national scene in recent weeks: a politician who prized conciliation and bipartisanship above polarisation and short-term political gain.

Putting Mr Obama's victory in a broader perspective, he acknowledged its special significance for African-Americans.

'I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Senator Obama believes that, too,' he added.

'But we both recognise that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.'

As he delivered his remarks, some in the crowd could not conceal their disgust with his rival. 'Although we fell short, the failing is mine, not yours,' he told them, and they roared back in disagreement, before chanting 'Nobama! Nobama!'.

Mr McCain was joined by his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

He praised her as a vital new voice: 'We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.'

Most McCain supporters at the gathering refused to acknowledge that their candidate was losing until minutes before he called Mr Obama to concede.

Ms Susan Helsel, a teacher who turned 62 yesterday and was hoping to get a McCain presidency as a birthday present, said an hour before he conceded: 'I just can't see an Obama presidency. I don't want to be in a socialist government.'

Several in the affluent crowd said voters had been seduced by Mr Obama's promise of change, instead of considering a candidate who had a long record of independence. 'People got wrapped up in charisma, they got wrapped up in an ideal as opposed to reality,' said podiatrist Tanya Pfitzer.

Mr McCain went home immediately after his speech.

'I know one thing: He's going to get a good night's sleep tonight,' an aide said.

WASHINGTON POST, REUTERS, LOS ANGELES TIMES