<B>Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao </B>

?We hope that the latest development of the situation in Iraq is conducive to the Iraqi people taking their destiny into their own hands, and to realising peace and stability in Iraq?.

<B>Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abtahi </B>

?Saddam should be prosecuted because of the crimes he has committed against the Iraqi and Iranian people. Iranians have suffered a lot because of him and mass graves in Iraq prove the crimes he has committed against the Iraqi people. The arrest of a criminal has made me very happy.?

<B>UN Secretary General Kofi Annan </B>

?The capture of Saddam provides a chance to give fresh impetus to the search for peace and stability in Iraq?.

<B>Australian Prime Minister John Howard </B>

?Until he was finally killed or captured, there was always the fear he would come back. This will lift an enormous psychological burden off the Iraqi people. We have caught Saddam... but the job is not yet done?.

<B>Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of Iraq?s interim Governing Council </B>

?This is a big blow to terrorists in Iraq. It is a great day for humanity and the Iraqi people?.

<B>Kuwait Information Minister Mohammed Abulhassan </B>

?Thank God that he has been captured alive, so he can be tried for the heinous crimes he has committed. Kuwait today feels more relaxed and assured after the departure of this tyrant and after all are certain now that he will never return?.

<B>Spokeswoman for French President Jacques Chirac </B>

?The president is delighted at the arrest of Saddam Hussein. This is a major event which should strongly contribute to the democratisation and the stabilisation of Iraq, and allow the Iraqis to once more be masters of their destiny in a sovereign Iraq?.

<German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder</B>

?It?s with great delight that I learned of Saddam Hussein?s capture. I congratulate Bush on this successful operation. Saddam caused horrible suffering to his people and the region. I hope the capture will help the international community?s effort to rebuild and stabilise Iraq?.

<B>Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov </B>

?We think the arrest of Saddam Hussein will contribute to the strengthening of security in Iraq and to the process of political regulation in the country with the active participation of the United Nations?.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon </B>