●<B>Vladimir Putin, President, Russia:</B>

“If Bush wins, then I can only feel joy that the American people did not allow itself to be intimidated, and made the most sensible decision”

●<B> Junichiro Koizumi, PM, Japan: </B>

“It seems that a close race is continuing as expected. Regardless of which candidate wins, I think there will basically be no change in the recognition of friendship between Japan and the United States and the importance of the Japan-US alliance.”

●<B>Iyad Illawi, PM, Iraq: </B>

“Whoever wins will be our friend. The United States liberated us from a dictator from a very long period of war and agony. We will always be grateful to America for what it has done and continues to do.”

●<B>Silvan Shalom, foreign minister, israel: </B>

“In the case of President Bush and the candidate Kerry, there is no significant difference when it comes to their deep and warm support for Israel.”

●<B> Alexander Downer, foreign minister, Australia: </B>

“The role of the United States in Southeast Asia and assisting our regional neighbours and us in countering Jemaah Islamiah and other like terrorist organisations is going to be a very important role.”

●<B> Mohammad Abtahi, advisor to President Khatami, Iran: </B>

“Bush’s methods are wrong but now by the mistakes he made in the Middle East, he has more knowledge about the region than Kerry who needs time and money to reach to Bush’s conclusions.”

“Despite his wrong policies, it will be better for the region if Bush wins the election,” Abtahi said.“Then Bush will have time to end his projects in the region.”

●<B> Khaled Maheena, Editor-in-Chief, Arab News, Saudi Arabia: </B>

“The Americans have to deal with Saudi Arabia, whoever is president .... Kerry and Bush are two sides of the same coin and the coin is not very gleaming.”

●<B>British Deputy PM John Prescott:</B>

“We must wait and see what the American people have got to say and remember in the last election with Florida, even though they have made a decisive decision it seems this time.”

●<B> Former British foreign secretary Cook:</B>

“I’m not sure in the light of the last four years whether the Bush team have got the skills to heal a divided America. “Not only do we have a divided America but also we have a president who is highly polarising in his approach to world politics.”

●<B> Otto Schily, German Interior Minister:</B>

“Despite the issue of our differing positions in the past, we all have to contribute to ensuring that the situation in Iraq stabilises. The Chancellor (Gerhard Schroeder) and Foreign Minister (Joschka) Fischer have made this clear and it can’t be any other way.”

●<B> Franco Frattini, Italian foreign minister:</B>

“Maintaining a close relationship with the United States is a requirement that is very much recognised by Italy and the European Union.”