This week's quotes from around the world
I have been in war and I have been through a number of hurricanes, tornadoes and other relief operations, but I have never seen anything like this.
Colin Powell, US Secretary of State, in Thailand on a visit to the nations worst affected by the Asian tsunami.
The question is, are there enough supplies to meet the demand? Are there a million plastic buckets in Sri Lanka?
John Punter, of the International Committee for the Red Cross, wonders whether the countries devastated by the tsunami have the facilities to handle the distribution of planeloads of aid.
It was a sight we will never ever forget. A monstrous wall of water was heading towards us at an amazing speed. An eight- to 10-metre wave broke over our home ... We all just stood there in utter shock.
Irishman Merle Clawson describes the devastation on Phuket island.
The smell gets absorbed into the fabric of these places. It's organic so it will eventually disappear, but it will take time. I don't know what the monks are going to have to do to purify their shrines.
Robert Holland, a funeral director who has helped to set up temporary mortuaries in Buddhist temples in Thailand.
I've an 11-year-old girl. And she once went missing on me for 20 minutes in town and everything went through my head. I know exactly what those people are going through.
Gene O'Sullivan, a former Army Ranger from Castlematyr, Co Cork, joins the search for an 11-year-old boy who disappeared from near his home in Midleton since Tuesday.
Until about 7 p.m. that night, it felt great to be the 44th president of the United States.
John Kerry recalls his optimism after early exit polls showed him beating Bush in the US presidential elections.
A chance for some answers that have been lacking from the administration about its policies on torture and about the prison abuse scandals.
Patrick Leahy, a Democrat senator, welcomes the appearance of Alberto Gonzales, presidential nominee for Attorney-General, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
We will not allow violence and terrorists to derail this process in Iraq.
Iraqi prime Minister Ayad Allawi insists elections will go ahead despite a wave of suicide killings this week.
Hi, I'm Richard Gere, and I'm speaking for the entire world. We're with you during this election time. It's really important: get out and vote.
Richard Gere urges Palestinians to vote in elections this weekend, in a locally-screened TV commercial.