McCain concedes defeat, calls for unity

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PHOENIX, (Arizona), Nov 5 (AFP): Republican John McCain conceded defeat in the US presidential election here Tuesday, congratulating Democratic rival Barack Obama and calling for Americans to unite behind their new leader.
The 72-year-old Arizona senator threw in the towel after results showed Democratic candidate Barack Obama had taken an unbeatable lead.
"My friends, we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," McCain said in a speech to supporters gathered on the lawn of Phoenix's luxury Arizona Biltmore Hotel.
McCain described the election of Obama as America's first black president as "historic" and would help the country heal its racial demons.
McCain had been neck-and-neck with Obama in September but his campaign never recovered after the global financial turmoil that caused hundreds of billions of dollars on Wall Street.