World - Obama's acceptance speech partly written in London

Barack Obama's electrifying presidential acceptance speech in Chicago in the US, widely lauded all over the globe, was partly written by a Liberal Democrat tax lobbyist in a London flat in Notting Hill.

Obama's speech to hundreds of thousands of supporters in Chicago on Tuesday night was one of the most widely-watched and repeated political addresses in recent history.

According to 'The Daily Telegraph', parts of the speech were crafted by Jacob Rigg, 27, a volunteer adviser to the Obama campaign, in his flat in Notting Hill, west London.

Rigg works for 'The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners', which lobbies and advises on tax issues.

Rigg said the inspiration for the Chicago speech was the most celebrated piece of oratory in American history, Abraham Lincoln's 1863 address at Gettysburg.

Lincoln's speech, made two years before the end of the American Civil War, spoke of the "unfinished work" and the "great task remaining" of building a democratic republic.

In his speech, Obama had said: "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you — we as a people will get there.”

Having worked in Washington as a lobbyist, Rigg has links with some of Obama's Senate staff, the report said.

Working from home in his own time, Rigg was involved in writing the President-elect's speech, contributing via phone, e-mail and video conferences.

Rigg said he had also drafted a significant speech the world will never hear, the one that Obama would have given if he had lost the election, according to the daily.

Meanwhile, copies of major American newspapers announcing the historic victory of Barack Obama are now being auctioned on e-Bay for a price ranging between a few dollars to more than a hundred, as they could become a collectors’ item.

The papers containing the results were snapped up fast on November 5 and it was perhaps a rare occasion that by mid-morning, most of the papers had been sold out.

Among the papers, 20 copies of the New York Times are being offered for more than $255 and a single copy up to $75.

Those seeking to bid are being assured that they are first hand copies with some warning them to beware of fakes.

The Washington Post has got bids up to $50 for one copy. A bundle of 50 Los Angeles Times victory edition are being offered for $1,800 one copy for up to $25.

Other papers too were being auctioned and bringing bids several times the cover price.