Bottom Lines

"The wall of separation between society and some sections of the elite has become too high. The elite can barely claim to be reflecting the true will of the people," -- Fahmi Howeidy, Al-Ahram

"The Libyan declaration is a good deal for the US but it is a unilateral step which undermines the position of all Arab countries which are left with no alternative but to succumb to US pressure," -- Sanaa Al-Said, Al-Wafd

"We hope that Al-Azhar and its sheikh would express the true opinions of Muslims to the officials of the French administration. We hope that they will stand up to attempts that deny Muslims the right to worship and practise their religion anywhere in the world," -- Afaq Arabiya

"The Libyan move is a declaration of war against the diplomacy of death. The Libyan decision puts extraordinary pressure on the Israelis. The myth of their fear of Arab weapons no longer stands," -- Al-Jamahiriya

"That Saddam Hussein be given a fair trial is the most vital issue in Iraq today. But especially so for the Iraq of tomorrow," -- Hazem Saghiya, Al-Hayat

"In spite of his palaces, plush cars and the thin veneer of sophistication, at heart he was a country bumpkin who, when he was on the run, chose to hide in the countryside where he was raised rather than in the city he instinctively distrusted," -- Nabil Khalifa, Al-Wasat