Nicola Sturgeon has proved her comedy credentials in the United States, despite being compared with Saddam Hussein, after risking a late-night audience with the Daily Show's combative host Jon Stewart.

Monday night's interview on Comedy Central's hugely influential satirical news programme marks another spike in the Scottish National party leader's burgeoning international profile, as she becomes the most senior serving UK politician to appear on the show.

Stewart, whose trademark style is to mercilessly tease guests, made the comparison with Hussein after Sturgeon joked she had "ordered an inquiry" into why the SNP won just 56 out of 59 Scottish parliamentary seats in the UK's recent general election.

The host responded: "You think you're Saddam Hussein? You get 99%?"

"I think you should always aim for more," Scotland's first minister shot back.