Black Christian leaders in Britain have hailed the election of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States as a defining moment in the history of most powerful nation in the world and a great symbol for black people globally.

The Prince of Wales has met leaders of some of the UK's largest Black-led churches as he sought to lay the groundwork for intended civic collaboration to help tackle the problem of disaffected young people in modern Britain.

Christians across all London's 33 boroughs, including many from the Black Majority Churches, are coming together for a Week of Peace which will look at practical community-based methods for reducing violence throughout the capital.

Black Christian leaders have attacked UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying that his comments this week about Black communities did not recognise the work these communities - and especially Black Churches - are doing to tackle criminal gangs.