Erlan Idrissov, the Kazakhstan ambassador to Britain, addressed students at the Oxford Union last night.

He admitted finding Sacha Baron Cohen's film, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan funny.

But he told his audience that the film was not a true reflection of his country, and made "a comedy out of a people who have had so many tragedies in their history".

Mr Idrissov's visit to the union building in St Michael's Street coincided with the London premiere of the film, which was attended by Sacha Baron Cohen.