His image-makers called the speech combative and forward-looking.

Her highly combative speech style polarized Argentine politics, recalling the style of Eva Perón.

In a highly combative speech, he levelled particular criticism at local authorities who refuse to co-operate with the academies programme, saying they were "happy with failure".

In a combative pre-election speech Gorbachev delivered a blistering attack on conservative thinking and "those who came to this congress hoping to take the party back to the old condition of commands and orders".

"We were defeated by money and the ethnic vote," Quebec's Premier, Jacques Parizeau, told followers tonight in a combative speech tinged with a spirit of revenge.

The suit comes as attorney general Eric Holder made his most combative speech in Austin, Texas, on voting rights.

Assad's combative speech offered little to bring any sort of compromise, despite promising constitutional amendments in March and multi-party elections in either May or June.

But Dr Sarah Grace's soft smile was at odds with her combative speech.

Mr. Blair drew the battle lines with the militants in a combative speech to a Labor convention in Cardiff on Feb. 2.

In a combative speech to about 1,000 followers, he focused closely on areas where he says Labor has secured progress - particularly the economy and public services.