Clegg attacks Iran in UN speech

In his speech to the United Nations General Assembly last night, the Deputy Prime Minister said the suggestion that the September 11 attacks were orchestrated by elements within the US government were "intended to distract attention from Iran's obligations".

He also told the meeting of world leaders in New York that the coalition Government would "practise what we preach" in foreign policy.

In what was generally regarded as a thinly-veiled reference to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, he said the UK could not act as if it was above international law.

He said: "No nation can insist on the law, and then act as though it is above it.

"In recent years we have learned – in some cases the hard way – that democracy cannot be created by diktat."

Aides to the Deputy Prime Minister said the speech was a reference to the future, not the past, but the implied criticism of the former Labour government was clear.