Clinton formally accepts Democratic nomination

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton accepted her party's nomination on Thursday, saying: "it is with humility, determination and boundless confidence in America's promise that I accept your nomination for president of the United States."

Much of Clinton's speech was targeted at Trump, while drawing contrasts with approach of her own party. "He wants to divide us from the rest of the world, and each other," Clinton said.

"Don't believe anyone who says 'I alone can fix it'. Yes, those were Donald Trump's words in Cleveland'," she added. "Americans don't say 'I alone can fix it'. They say: 'We'll fix it together'."

"He's offering empty promises. What are we offering? A bold agenda to improve the lives of people across our country - to keep you safe, to get you good jobs, and to give your kids the opportunities they deserve."

The former Secretary of State offered an olive branch to supporters of former rival Bernie Sanders, telling them she had listened to their views. "Your cause is our cause," she said, although boos were audible at points in the speech.

Clinton closed her speech with mentions of the Founding Fathers and their "selfless passion to build something better for all who follow. That is the story of America. And we begin a new chapter tonight. Yes, the world is watching what we do. Yes, America's destiny is ours to choose."

The new presidential candidate was introduced by her daughter Chelsea, who spoke of her mother as "a woman "driven by compassion, by faith, by kindness, a fierce sense of justice, and a heart full of love."

DW's Richard Walker had noticed earlier there were plenty of Bernie Sanders supporters in the room, eager to make a statement.

Democrats urged to unite

Ahead of the Clinton speeches, the conference saw a series of speeches from ordinary supporters, with Democrats - many of whom supported rival candidate Bernie Sanders - urged to set aside differences.

They included Khizr Khan, the father of Muslim soldier, Capt. Humayun Khan, who died while serving in the US Army in the years that followed the September 11 attacks in New York. Several Republican private citizen activists, including one who had closely worked with Ronald Reagan, also addressed the convention, stating that the GOP had abandoned its values and no longer represented their interests. They announced their intention to vote for Clinton and urged other Republican voters to join them in doing so.

A day earlier, President Barack Obama gave Clinton an overwhelming endorsement in his last speech to the conference as president - urging Democrats to "carry" Clinton to the White House and lauding her credentials as a candidate.

"There has never been a man or woman, not me, not Bill (Clinton) - nobody more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States," Obama said to cheers at the Philadelphia convention on Wednesday night.

Clinton's running mate Tim Kaine accepted his nomination on Wednesday, describing Clinton's rival for the presidency, Donald Trump, as a "one-man wrecking crew."

Trump urges supporters not to watch

Millions of Americans have tuned in to watch this month's party conventions, with the Democratic get-together is ahead in terms of ratings over last week's Republican event.

Donald Trump's Republicans to urged supporters not to watch Hillary Clinton's landmark speech on Thursday night. "Unless you want to be lied to, belittled and attacked for your beliefs, don't watch Hillary's DNC speech tonight," Trump's campaign said in a fundraising email.

rc/kl (AFP, AP, Reuters)