Europe has been plunged into the middle of the US presidential race after Republican front-runner Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama of cozying up to it while ignoring basic American values.

MUAMMAR GADDAFI’S death means a long and complex trial that could have divided Libya and embarrassed Western governments and oil firms will be avoided.

MILITARY targets will grow harder to hit and the risk of deadly errors will increase as Western nations pursue their air campaign over Libya, with no guarantee of stopping Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in their tracks.

The UN Security Council’s emergency meeting last night, the Palestinians and Arab nations, backed by a number of council members including Turkey, called for an independent and impartial investigation and the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.