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BARACK Obama last night hailed Gaddafi's death as a "momentous day" for Libya. The US President said: "This marks the end of a long and painful chapter for the people of Libya who now have the opportunity to determine their destiny. "Today's events prove once again that the rule of an iron fist inevitably comes to an end." Foreign Secretary William Hague said the dictator's death brought the end of the Nato mission in Libya "much closer". But RAF jets would continue their sorties for a while longer. Mr Hague said: "We will want to be sure that there aren't other pockets of pro-Gaddafi forces still able to threaten the civilian population." UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called it a "historic" moment, but warned: "The road ahead for Libya and its people will be difficult and full of challenges." Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "I pay tribute to the Libyan people for standing up to the former regime and seeking to define their own destiny. "We should be proud of the support that our Armed Forces have given to that cause."