Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has assailed Barack Obama's foreign policy in a speech, saying the risk of conflict in the Middle East has grown under the president's leadership.
With the speech at the Virginia Military Institute, Romney hopes to undo a string of foreign policy stumbles, taking aim at an issue where polls show the president holds a clear lead.
Saying there is a longing for American leadership in the Middle East, Romney called for the US to take a more assertive role in Syria, as well as seeking new conditions on aid to Egypt and saying he'd impose tighter sanctions on Iran.
With the race for the White House growing tighter after Obama's poor performance in last week's first of three presidential debate, all eyes are now on Thursday's debate between Vice-President joe biden and Wisconsin Representative paul ryan.
