Quirky moments at the UN General Assembly

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With nearly 200 world leaders given the floor every year at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the potential for angry outbursts, snarky rhetoric, or just amusing scenes is immense.

Who once banged their shoe on the desk in anger? Who broke the record for longest speech? And why did the devil once get a special mention?

Here is a recap of some of the most memorable, funny and occasionally cringe-worthy moments in 72 years of UN General Assemblies.

Lengthy speeches: JFK, swine flu and no hotel room

Many speakers go over the unofficial allotted time of 15 minutes when addressing the UNGA.

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (L) speaks with Cuban leader Fidel Castro (R) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 1, 1960. /VCG Photo

But one of the most impressive performances came from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, making his first appearance at the UN in 2009 after 40 years in power. He threw paper, appeared to rip the UN Charter and spoke for 96 minutes on such topics as swine flu, the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and John F. Kennedy's assassination.

The absolute record, however, belongs to Cuban leader Fidel Castro who spoke for a whopping four hours and 29 minutes in 1960. In his speech, he took aim at the US, accused it of colonizing Cuba and complained at length about the poor treatment he and his delegation had received in New York, including their struggle to secure hotel rooms.

Colorful acts: The devil and a shoe

Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev did not take kindly to criticism from the Philippines delegate in 1960 about Moscow's dealings in eastern Europe and protested by pounding his fist on the desk and then picking up his shoe and banging that on the desk instead. Years later, Khrushchev's granddaughter disclosed that he had been wearing new shoes and had taken them off because they were too tight, which is why he was able to reach for one during the debate.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 20, 2006. /VCG Photo

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made an equally strong impression when he addressed the UNGA a day after US President George W. Bush in 2006. "The devil came here yesterday," he said, making the sign of the cross, putting his hands together in prayer and adding: "It smells of sulfur still today."

Props: Cartoon bombs and olive branches

Some leaders bring visual aids to the UNGA and a notable example was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2012. Wanting to make the point that Iran's nuclear program must be stopped, he held up a cartoon-like drawing of a bomb and drew a literal red line on it, sparking a whole series of memes online.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat made use of more imaginary but no less powerful props in his first UN address in 1974, saying he had come with a freedom fighter's gun in one hand and an olive branch in the other. "Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand," he urged. Observers noted at the time that he seemed to be wearing a holster, but a spokesman later insisted it was empty.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gestures as he arrives at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 23, 2009. /VCG Photo

Insults: Hitler or Churchill?

Insulting adversaries is not uncommon in world affairs, but Ugandan President Idi Amin seemed confused about his own intentions in 1972 when he praised British Prime Minister Edward Heath and then compared him to Adolf Hitler. He later insisted: "Not Hitler, I meant Winston Churchill. Mr Heath is like Winston Churchill."

Walkouts: Protesting with their feet

When things reach a boiling point, the ultimate protest method at the UNGA is to walk out.

The Cuban delegation did just that in 2006 when George W. Bush called Castro a "cruel dictator" and pushed for freedom in Cuba.

Delegates walk out as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addresses world leaders during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 23, 2010. /VCG Photo

In 1987, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's verbal attack on the US prompted the US ambassador, Vernon A. Walters, to leave the General Assembly Hall. "The people of Nicaragua may have to sit and listen to him, but I don't," Walters said.

But perhaps the most controversial figure in recent times has been Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who prompted walkouts by the US and several other delegations in 2009, 2010 and 2011 after attacking Israel as a "Zionist regime", accusing it of genocide and terror, and arguing the West used the September 11 attacks as a pretext to attack Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Top picture: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points to a red line on a drawing of a bomb while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, September 27, 2012. /VCG Photo)