Obama announces 'Organising for America' programme

The US president-elect, Barack Obama, gave his campaign organisation a name – "Organising for America" – and a mission, which is the running of a permanent campaign for his legislative and governing agenda.

Announcing this in a video message emailed to his supporters, Obama said "Organising for America" is the next phase for the organisation that was built during the campaign, offering volunteers the continued opportunity to work for change in their communities by organising in support of reform in Washington.

"As president, I will need the help of all Americans to meet the challenges that lie ahead. That's why I'm asking people like you who fought for change during the campaign to continue fighting for change in your communities," he said.

"Since the election hundreds of thousands of you have shared your ideas about how this movement should move forward, and we've listened carefully," Obama said in his video announcement.

Obama said volunteers, grass roots leaders and ordinary citizens will continue to drive the organisation, helping in bring about the changes he proposed during the campaign: a solution to the economic crisis, an end to the war in Iraq, affordable healthcare for all and new sources of energy to power our economy and protect the environment.