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ASIA CELEBRATES OBAMA'S HISTORIC WIN

AFP, November 5, 2008

Champagne corks popped across Asia as former schoolmates in Indonesia, the Japanese town of Obama and thousands of American expats Wednesday celebrated Barack Obama's historic election as US president.

Bars were packed in cities from Beijing to Sydney as election fever gripped the region amid the Democratic candidate's win over Republican John McCain.

Former classmates of the new president-elect reacted with pride as the chubby little boy they knew as Barry sealed the win.

"It's just amazing, I mean we're so proud of him," said Dewi Asmara Oetojo, a lawmaker in Indonesia's parliament who was a school friend of Obama in the 1960s.

The champagne also flowed in the Philippines, where a group of Democrats celebrated Obama's victory victory in a modest home in upmarket Manila.

"It was a blow-out. I can't believe how happy I am," said Bill Fischelis of Boston as he handed out champagne in plastic cups and patted people on the back.

"Americans abroad say, Obama! Obama!," the group chanted.

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