Washington: October 31, 2007- Barack Obama, nearest rival to Hillary Clinton, has accused for changing her position on key issues like the Iraq war in the latest TV debate.

Some of the most aggressive attacks in the debate came from John Edwards, who said Sen Clinton "defends a broken system that's corrupt in Washington DC".

The first vote in the Democrats' nominating contest is scheduled to take place in Iowa in early January.

Sen Clinton, otherwise, has a clear lead in opinion polls and has also raised more campaign funds than any other candidate. 

The attack has come in the first Democratic debate in a month during which Sen Clinton has strengthened her position as a front-runner, and she was its main focus. 

By voting for a Senate resolution to label an Iranian military corps a terrorist group, he said, she had helped pave the way for an attack on Iran.

"She says she'll stand up to George Bush on Iran. And in fact, she voted to give George Bush the first step in moving militarily on Iran - and he's taken it," said Mr Edwards.

Sen Clinton defended her actions, rejecting what she called the "false choice" between rushing to war and doing nothing.

Sen Obama, meanwhile, accused Sen Clinton of changing her stance on the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), torture policies and Iraq "whenever it's politically convenient".
 
Full Story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7070455.stm