LIVERPOOL - Ex Beatle Sir Paul McCartney was given a special gong at the MTV Europe Music Awards Thursday in his home city of Liverpool - and used the event to hail US president-elect Barack Obama.

McCartney was presented with the Ultimate Legend Award, created especially for him, by U2 frontman Bono, who compared him to the pope and described his work as "immortal".

Accepting the honour, McCartney thanked fellow Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, adding: "Many years ago, there were four little boys born here in Liverpool and we went on to do quite well.

"Thanks to all my family, to all you for coming along, to everyone in Great Britain, to everyone in America for voting in Mr Obama."

Bono said that McCartney had driven him to the awards, pointing out his old haunts en route. "It was like being in the Popemobile with the Pope driving," the Irish star said.

The awards were being watched by around 10,000 fans at the ceremony and some 30 million people on television worldwide.

Among the acts performing live were Kanye West and Katy Perry, who also welcomed Obama's election, saying: "Maybe Europe will love us again now".

Nominees include Coldplay, Alicia Keys and Britney Spears for album of the year, Amy Winehouse and Leona Lewis for best act and The Cure, Foo Fighters and Tokio Hotel for best live band.

Liverpool, in northwest England, was chosen as one of this year's European capitals of culture partly because of its pop music heritage.

As well as the Beatles, acts including the Lightning Seeds, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the Zutons have come from the city. - AFP/fa