The BBC's Jim Muir, in Iran, says he may have been trying to encourage feuding politicians to set aside their differences by effectively banging their heads together.

BBC: Iran's president criticises death sentence

If India and Pakistan could learn to set aside their differences, they might be able to divert their energy into dragging more of their people out of poverty.

ECONOMIST: Breaking the ice

Mr Clegg said it was right that the coalition parties had set aside their differences in the national interest and insisted the government was making the right reforms to help the economy continue to heal.

BBC: Coalition to go the distance, Cameron and Clegg insist