Obama tells rally of hope for US

Stage set for Obama concerts

US President-elect Barack Obama has told a crowd of hundreds of thousands of supporters in Washington that "anything is possible in America".

As the US fights two wars and tackles an economic crisis, Mr Obama said he was "hopeful as ever that the United States of America will prevail".

He was speaking at a welcome concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, ahead of his inauguration on Tuesday.

Some of the biggest names in music took part, among them Beyonce and U2.

Mr Obama said that meeting the challenges faced by the US would not be easy and would take more than a month or a year.

But he said that "the dream of our founders will live on in our time".

There were also readings highlighting American values and history.

The concert was one in a series of special events in the lead-up to Mr Obama's swearing-in as the 44th US president.

Earlier Mr Obama placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to remember fallen American servicemen.

The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says it was a reminder to his supporters that while there is room for celebration over the next few days, this is also a sombre time for America, as it fights two wars and grapples with an economic crisis.

Security operation

An unprecedented security operation is under way in the capital ahead of Mr Obama's swearing-in on Tuesday, with the authorities expecting a turnout of up to two million.

Some 240,000 tickets have been issued for the festivities at the Capitol.

For those without tickets, the entire length of the National Mall, which stretches nearly two miles from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, will be open to the public for the first time.

A national holiday honouring the assassinated civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Day, falls on Monday - the eve of the inauguration of the first black US president.

Mr Obama, Vice-President-elect Joe Biden and their families will take part in activities in Washington aimed at encouraging others to help their communities.

On Saturday, Mr Obama retraced the steps of former US President Abraham Lincoln, travelling by train from Philadelphia to Washington.

The 137-mile (220 km) journey began at Philadelphia's 30th Street station, where Mr Obama said he would be carrying the hopes of ordinary Americans with him to Washington.

You can watch Tuesday's inauguration live on the BBC News website, as well as on BBC World News and BBC One.