While the United States wants Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment project, which it fears could be used for making atomic weapons, Iran argues that its nuclear programme is meant for civilian use.

“Our concern is that,” Crowley told the BBC’s World Today programme, “that Iran’s response itself did not really address what is the core issue of the international community and the core concern, which is Iran’s nuclear ambitions.”

Iran has to prove that it is willing to live up to the commitments it had made, Philip Crowley told the BBC, adding that “one of the questions going forward will be to test Iran’s interest in actual engagement, either with the United States or with the international community, and obviously a core concern is in fact its nuclear programme.”

Mojtaba Samareh, an aide to the President of Iran, had earlier told the newspaper Washington Post in an interview that Iran will not abandon its nuclear programme but that the country was ready to work with the international community to get rid of nuclear arms.

Meanwhile, the reaction from Russia to Iran’s package of proposals on its nuclear plans has been more positive than that of the United States.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, is of the opinion that Iran’s latest proposals holds “something to work with” and, based on a brief review of the papers submitted by Iran, there is “something to use.”

The most important thing, Sergei Lavrov said in Moscow, is that Iran is willing to have a comprehensive debate on the situation. It is also clear that Iran is prepared to play a positive role in Iraq and Afghanistan in particular and the region in general.

According to political observers, since Russia’s attitude towards Iran’s overtures continue to differ from that of the Western nations, hitting upon a common ground on the vexed issue could be tricky.

It may recalled that United States President Barack Obama had warned the government of Iran earlier in 2009 that Washington would like to see a “positive response” to its friendlier propositions by the end of September 2009. And, if that does not happen by then, the United States would push for new sanctions against Iran, Obama had warned.

At the same time, Russia made it clear the other day, in the UN Security Council, that it would not support any new rounds of harsh sanctions against Iran.

Scarlett Johanssen and Barack Obama

Will there be many celebrities present at US President-elect Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration?

George Clooney with Barack Obama

Given the massive celebrity support Obama has had during his campaign, it is expected that Jay-Z, George Clooney, Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johannsen, Robert De Niro, comedian Chris Rock, Samuel L Jackson, Ben Affleck, Caroline Kennedy, Sean Diddy Combs, and Oprah Winfrey may be present at the presidential inauguration.

Barack Obama does the twist at Ellen Degeneres show

Many of these celebrities have contributed to the campaign and organized fundraisers. Oprah alone raised $3 million at a bash that threw at her California home.

Michelle Obama, Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver and Oprah Winfrey

US president-elect Barack Obama’s Presidential Inauguration will take place at the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 20, 2009, two and a half months after the election. The gap between Election day and the Presidential Inauguration day, in the 1800s, was nearly four months. This was because in those days it took a lot of time for travel and proceedings to take place. Later, the gap was reduced to two and a half months, which is used by the outgoing US President for pardons and policy changes. Barack Obama will use the next two and a half months for new high-level appointments, cabinet selection, White House staff selection, and handover for the new team.

Some reports say that Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was likely to be chosen as the Chief of Staff.

Barack Obama’s inaugural theme “A Birth of New Freedom” is inspired by President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address.

Covered fountain at the Presidential Inauguration platform site

Preparations for the Presidential Inauguration began on September 24, 2008, with the ceremonial “first nail” of the Inauguration platform. On November 5, 2008, the 10,000-feet Inauguration platform was built on the West side of the US Capitol.

First Nail Ceremony to kick off the Presidential Inauguration preparations

As per tradition, Barack Obama’s presidential election will kick off with a procession from the White House to the Capitol. Barack Obama’s Presidential Oath of Office will  be held after the oath is taken by the vice president-elect Joe Biden.

After the presidential swearing-in ceremony, President-elect Barack Obama will give his Inaugural Address, following which Obama will go the National Statuary Hall for a luncheon, and then the Inaugural Parade will be held, which will go back to the White House from the US Capitol.

The US Capitol's Statuary Hall

Nearly 200,000 people are expected to be present.

Barack-Obama’s Presidential Inauguration is expected to be watched extensively around the world, if the frenzy generated on Election day is anything to go by.

President-elect Barack Obama has certainly drawn many firsts. He is the first leader of the Democratic party to win more than 50 percent of the popular vote since 1976. The election also saw the largest turnout, 64.1, since 1905.

Obama’s campaign has been the costliest – $700 million spent on the campaign  – and the longest.

The popular vote for president-elect Obama was 52.3 per cent, and 46.4 percent for senator McCain.

Barack Obama

It’s only after the oath has been taken that the President can enter on the execution of the office of presidency.

Like all preceding US presidents, Barack Obama will take the US Presidential Oath:

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The swearing-in ceremony and the oath taking usually happens at the United States Capitol in Washington DC.

The current Chief Justice of USA, John. G Roberts will administer the Presidential oath of Office to President Barack Obama. In 2005, the Presidential Oath of Office was administered to George W. Bush by the then Chief Justice of USA William Rehnquist.

Before President Barack Obama is sworn in during The Presidential Oath of Office, Vice-President Joe Biden will be sworn in.

John F Kennedy after attending Mass, before the US Presidential Oath of Office

Historically, before the swearing-in ceremony is conducted, president-elects go for morning worship service, ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt attended the St. John’s Episcopal  Church before the Presidential Oath of Office.

After the swearing-in ceremony, President Obama will give his presidential inaugural address. The practice of inaugural addresses started with the Presidential Oath of Office of the first US President George Washington in April 30, 1789.

JFK gives his Inaugural Address on January 20, 1961

In the inaugural address, the US president-elect outlines his vision of America and political values that will govern the country. In the past, the inaugural addresses have seen some fantastic speeches from the likes of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, that are quoted to this day.

The inaugural address of President Barack Obama will be held on the west front of the United States Capitol.

After the inaugural address, President Obama will be taken for the Inaugural luncheon, traditionally held at the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the Presidential Inaugural Parade

The luncheon will be followed by the Inaugural parade in which Barack Obama and Joe Biden will lead a procession to the White House from Pennsylvania Avenue. The parade will consist of citizens, ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands, and floats.

John F Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy at the Presidential Inaugural Ball in 1961

Following that, the Presidential Inaugural Ball will be held on the night of January 20, 2008, in Washington DC.