This Week They Said

Both Fatah and Hamas are leading us to death and destruction. They don't care about us

Both Fatah and Hamas are leading us to death and destruction. They don't care about us. - Ayya Khalil, a native of Palestine, on this week's violence between the two militant groups in the Gaza Strip.

If it were up to me, I would close Guantánamo, not tomorrow but this afternoon.

- Colin Powell, former US secretary of state.

I am honoured and humbled by the democratic mandate the Irish people have given me.

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- Bertie Ahern is returned to office as Taoiseach.

It is the proudest day in my life. After 25 years of struggle . . . the possibility is there to see our policies implemented in government.

- The Green Party's Trevor Sargent as it enters government with Fianna Fáil.

They have swallowed huge chunks of Fianna Fáil policy, with all the failings in health and other vital public services that go with them. The Green Party sacrificed its unique political identity, swapping principle for power.

- Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny accuses the Greens of selling out.

The president put it in his pocket and it returned safely home.

- White House spokesman Tony Snow addresses rumours that President Bush's watch was stolen during a state visit to Albania.

I used an old journalist's trick to get here.

- Gustavo Selva, the Italian senator who feigned illness to get an ambulance to drive him through dense Rome traffic to a TV appearance.

Ian Paisley has a particular personality, I don't have any difficulty at all. All of the meetings I have done with Ian Paisley have been very cordial.

- Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness on being in government with the DUP.

I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference . . . God has given me this new chance.

- Paris Hilton via phone from the LA County Jail where she is serving a 45-day sentence for traffic violations.

We have our own studio in New York, we can record a track and release it the next day if we feel like it, give it to people while it's fresh. We're the first band to do this but I doubt very much we'll be the last.

- Tim Wheeler, frontman of Irish rock group Ash, which is to release its new material exclusively on the internet.

AI [ Amnesty International] has betrayed its mission.

- Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, saying Catholics should stop donating to human rights group Amnesty International because of its new policy advocating abortion rights for women if they have been raped, are a victim of incest or face health risks.

He's a god, not a man.

- Jack Naiva, chief of the jungle village of Yaohnanen on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, talking about the Duke of Edinburgh, whom the villagers worship as the son of a mountain spirit.

People get the impression that you're trying to [ mess] with them and it's not true. You're trying to entertain them.

- David Chase, creator of television series The Sopranos, which finished in surreal and controversial circumstances.

It is like a feral beast just tearing people and reputations to bits.

- British prime minister Tony Blair says television and newspaper coverage has worsened during his 10 years at Downing Street.

Cover your vital parts. I mean, if you expose your private parts, you'll get a fine. If you walk up and your pants drop, you get a fine. They're better off taking the pants off and just wearing a dress.

- Carol Broussard, mayor of Delcambre, Louisiana, who is about to sign into law a proposal that will make it a crime to wear trousers that show underwear.