This week they said

Personally, I would be very, very wary about that because I think that... it is not the kind of thing that society can judge.

Personally, I would be very, very wary about that because I think that . . . it is not the kind of thing that society can judge.

- Former Fine Gael leader, Mr Alan Dukes, on the Government's proposal to remove suicide as a ground for abortion

We welcome our Taoiseach. We share the grief. We pray for peace.

- Banner welcoming Mr Ahern to the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin

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This is a battle with only one outcome. Our victory, not theirs.

- Mr Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, in a message to the Taliban

Even if he wins the war. Even if Osama bin Laden is brought bound and chained down the Khyber Pass and down Whitehall itself, the second Blair term will be judged on whether or not New Labour fulfils its promise to improve public services.

- Tory MP Mr Boris Johnson

traumatic, emotional and deeply saddening experience.

- The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, describing his visit to "Ground Zero"

No one should cry for me, scream or tear his clothes and beat his face - those are foolish gestures.

- Extract from the will of Mohammed Atta, the man believed to have steered the first plane to hit the World Trade Centre

Melt their weapons, melt their hearts, melt their anger with love.

- Actress Shirley MacLaine outlining her preferred anti-terrorism policy

Irish support Bush but don't want to fight.

- Sunday Independent headline on opinion poll

We must lift the pall of suspicion from those who are in our country legitimately and openly - we cannot become a fortress Britain.

- Mr David Blunkett, British Home Secretary

We will not be part of any effort to criminalise or to deem as terrorists those men and women who fought when they considered they had no other choice and who had the integrity, courage and wisdom to support a peace process when they had that choice.

- Mr Gerry Adams, Sinn FΘin president, referring to the IRA at the party's ardfheis

It is clear that all roads lead to al-Qaeda and pinpoint Osama bin Laden as having been involved in it.

- Lord Robertson, NATO Secretary General

If I have to be hanged for the freedom of saying both what I think and what the great majority of Italians also think, then go ahead and hang me.

- Mr Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, on his remarks about the superiority of Western civilisation

Americans don't have the courage to come here.

- Mullah Mohammed Omar, Taliban leader

We are ready for negotiatations

- Abdul Salam Zaeef, Taliban ambassador to Pakistan

There are no negotiations.

- President Bush

Those responsible for this barbarous act have no place in the new society all right thinking people are trying to build in Northern Ireland.

- The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, on the murderers of Mr Martin O'Hagan, the Sunday World journalist

I suspect if he were to be frank with us he would tell us that effectively the ceasefires of the UDA, the LVF, the IRA and all the rest only exist when it suits them.

- Mr David Trimble, UUP leader, talking about Sir Ronnie Flanagan, RUC Chief Constable

"Many of my old flames/friends are publishing memoirs and, naturally meeting/sleeping with me was quite understandably the most interesting thing that ever happened to them in their entire lives"

- Commentator Julie Burchill.