Warsaw - American expatriates and Europeans stayed out late to watch the US presidential elections results come in on big TV screens, see Democratic candidate Barack Obama clinch the presidency and debate the historic election's impact on the world.

At a party in Warsaw, a crowd mostly supporting Obama cast votes in mock booths and argued politics as they headed for a long night lasting into Wednesday morning.

British-Italian businessman Colin Guerrini dropped his card into a bin marked "Republicans in Poland," and said it didn't take an American to join candidate John McCain's party.

"As a European, I can be a Republican," he said. "Because America shapes the world."

Real estate developer Brian Burrough said most of his American expat friends were for Obama, who polls show is favoured by most Europeans, too.

Burrough said he was sticking with Republican candidate John McCain, although his chances of victory were "terrible."

"He upholds Republican principles like support for business and less government," Burrough said.

In Poland and Czech Republic, US plans to base a missile defence system in the two ex-communist nations added interest to this year's election.

For the three Baltic republics of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, ties to Washington are a key protection against Russian influence.

In Riga, Latvia, US citizen Matt Mezinskis planned to meet friends for an election breakfast Wednesday morning, when the outcome was expected to be clear.

"I think and hope that either candidate will actually have a very good relationship with the Baltics. There's been a lot of talk about resurgent Russia," he said.

"Interestingly, Latvia was mentioned in both of the first two presidential debates, once by Obama and once by McCain," Mezinskis said.

In Prague, a hot spot for American expatriates, several venues staged election-night parties. The Globe Bookstore downtown in the Czech capital advertised "the all-nighter of all all-nighters."

US missile defence plans - a radar in Czech Republic and 10 interceptor missiles in Poland - are controversial in both countries, where lawmakers have yet to give their approval.

The US administration has prodded for decisions before President George W Bush leaves office in January. But Czech diplomat Jan Tomasek, attending the Warsaw party, said Czech lawmakers are waiting to see where the new president stands on missile defence.

"The election will be positive because it would clear up the situation, no matter if McCain or Obama wins," he said.

Poles have taken added interest in this year's election because it catered more to young people, said Polish student Maksima Owicz, with MTV promoting voting and pop star endorsements of politicians.

Poland has largely favoured Obama, 47. Criticism of Bush reached a peak as the country recently withdrew its last soldiers from Iraq, with some feeling Poland got too little in return for taking part in the US-led war.

McCain's age - 72 - and his conservative running mate, Alaska governor Sarah Palin, were hard for Europeans to embrace.

"Everyone sees McCain as older," Owicz said. "And they're afraid of Palin." (dpa)