Biden calls for unity after projected US election victory

President-elect Joe Biden has called for unity after he was projected to have won the US presidential election.

In a victory speech, Biden said it was "time to heal" and to "restore the soul and to secure the future of America".

Biden, 77, will become the oldest US president in history when he is inaugurated on 20 January.

He defeated incumbent Donald Trump, who has not conceded defeat and has made unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud.

In his speech, Biden said: "I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify; who doesn't see red states and blue states, only sees the United States."

He added: "To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemies. They are not our enemies. They are Americans."

Biden also called for unity in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 230,000 people in the US.

He said: "We cannot afford to waste any more time on partisan warfare. We must come together as a nation."

Biden's victory was a major upset, as Trump had been widely expected to win re-election.

The election was one of the most closely contested in US history, with Biden winning the popular vote by more than 5 million votes and securing 290 electoral votes to Trump's 214.

However, Trump has refused to concede defeat and has launched a series of legal challenges, alleging voter fraud.

There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud, and election officials have said the election was the most secure in US history.

Biden's victory is a major setback for Trump, who has been one of the most polarizing figures in American politics.

It is also a victory for Democrats, who had been out of power for the past four years.

Biden's victory is a sign that the American people are ready for a change after four years of Trump's tumultuous presidency.

It is also a sign that the American people are united in their desire for unity and healing.