Former US Secretary of State during US President George W Bush's first mandate, Colin Powell endorsed Sunday the election of the Democratic candidate Barack Obama for the White House.

Powell, who for many years was considered the most likely candidate to become the first African-American president, said in an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was not supporting Obama because of his race, but because of the Democrat's "ability to inspire".

"All Americans... not just African-Americans" would be proud of an Obama win, he argued.

Political analysts see Powell's support as a heavy blow to his fellow party member and Republican presidential candidate John McCain. The support comes nearly two weeks before voting day and is considered a significant boost to the Obama campaign since it shows to undecided American voters that the highly respected former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Secretary of State is trusting Obama as the country's Commander in Chief.

"It isn't easy for me to disappoint Senator McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that," Powell said before the NBC reporter, backing his decision with long observations of both candidates and talks with them.

An Obama victory should "not just electrify our country, it would electrify the world", Powell stated, adding that Obama was better suited to handle America's economic problems.

"I truly believe that at this point in America's history we need a president who will not just continue ... basically the policies we have followed in recent years," he said. "We need a president with transformational qualities."

"For that reason," he said, "I will be voting for Barack Obama."

Powell further criticized his own Republican Party for what he called its narrow focus on irrelevant personal attacks over a serious approach to challenges he called unprecedented.

Powell had also been "concerned at the selection of Governor Sarah Palin" for McCain's running mate.

"She's a very distinguished woman, and she's to be admired. At the same time, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she is ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice-president," Powell said flatly, adding that by contrast, Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, "is ready to be president on day one."

Powell also stated that he was "troubled" by Republican personal attacks on Obama, especially false suggestions that Obama was Muslim and Republicans' recent focus on Obama's alleged "terrorists' connections to William Ayers, the founder of the radical '60 Weather Underground.

Pointing out that Obama was a lifelong Christian, Powell criticized Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to Obama but also to Muslims.

Speaking on Fox News, McCain declared that he had "always admired and respected General Powell".

"We're long-time friends," he said. "This doesn't come as a surprise."

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