Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks during a taping of "Meet the Press" at NBC in Washington October 19, 2008.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at a campaign rally in Kansas City, October 18, 2008.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Powell's announcement came on Sunday, sixteen days before 2008 presidential election. Powell, a critic of the Iraq war, told the NBC that he backs Obama over fellow Republican John McCain, a leading backer of the conflict.

Powell said America needs a new kind of leader with a new way of thinking and he will vote for Obama.

Powell called the Illinois senator a transformational figure and said Obama meets the standard of being an "exceptional" president.

(CCTV October 20, 2008)