We're so scared of assassins, says Barack Obama's brother

In an exclusive interview, the brother of the presidential front-runner told how he communicates with him every day and worries that he has become an assassination target.

Abongo Obama said he is "hoping and praying" that no harm will come to the Democratic hopeful after federal agents foiled an alleged plot by two racists to kill him this week.

The 51-year-old said: "We are extremely excited about how it's all going and really positive about it, but when you hear about a threat against Barack's life, you are brought back down to reality.

"All the dangers he is facing become apparent again. We are hoping and praying that he will be protected.

"Based on American history, it's a reality that we have to consider seriously. A lot of people have been assassinated. When you're in that position, you're a big target. Barack is not only in danger because of his race, but because of the position he is going for. There's always a danger and fear he can be hurt."

The accountant, who has lived in Washington DC for 23 years, is the eldest of Mr Obama's siblings. The brothers have the same father, Barack Obama Snr, but different mothers.

Abongo Obama's mother Kezia was Mr Obama Snr's first wife. They married in their homeland of Kenya. He went on to marry two more women, the presidential candidate's mother Ann Dunham an American he met during a scholarship to the US and an American teacher called Ruth. He eventually went back to his first wife, with whom he had four children.

After his father's death, Mr Obama, then 21, went to Kenya and met his sister and brothers for the first time.

"I am very close to Barack. I was best man at his wedding and he was best man at mine," said Mr Obama. "I have no doubt that he is going to be successful in his campaign. I am in constant touch with him on the phone, by text and email to show him that I'm here for him and I'm supporting him."

Mr Obama, a married father-of-eight, is currently holidaying at their family home in the village of Nyan'goma Kogelo, western Kenya, with his mother, who flew there from her home in Bracknell, Berkshire this week. His siblings Auma, 48, Abo, 40, and Ben, 36, who all live in Kenya, are also there. The family wanted to be together on election night to celebrate together.

"We look forward to celebrating and congratulating our brother," he said. "Our father would have been very proud of him.

"America has come a long way in recent years, my brother's progress shows that."

Mr Obama has been at the centre of more than 500 death threats since launching his campaign. At least 12 were so serious that secret service agents hunted the suspects, according to reports from the US.

The revelations came after neo-Nazi skinheads Daniel Cowart, 20, and Paul Schlesselman, 18, were charged with conspiring to assassinate the 47-year-old senator, and more than 100 other black people.

The suspects were arrested on Wednesday last week after shooting at a church in Brownsville, Tennessee, and appeared in court on Friday surrounded by agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives Agency.

The agency is supposed to share information with the secret service but the 12 agents assigned to Mr Obama were not told of the plot until Monday afternoon.