DENVER: Barack Obama became the first black to be nominated by a major US party as its presidential candidate on Wednesday night.

Democrats formally named Obama as their presidential nominee, putting their hopes of ending eight years of Republican control of the White House in his hands.

The Democratic National Convention saw some real-life drama as former rival Hillary Clinton interrupted a state-by-state roll call vote to ask delegates to make Obama's selection unanimous "in the spirit of unity, with the goal of victory". They agreed, with a roar.