The Home Secretary, David Blunkett, defended the new measures to detain some terrorist suspects without trial, but admitted his "head was on the block" if he'd got it wrong. He also dismissed speculation that rifts had developed within the Cabinet over who would succeed Tony Blair.

BBC correspondent John Simpson confessed he'd got "a bit carried away" when he claimed to have liberated Kabul from the Taleban.

Speaking from New York, United Nations Special Projects Director Shashi Tharoor spoke of the challenge of trying to bring together competing Afghan factions to form a new government.

The chief of New York's fire service, Thomas von Essen, hailed the courage and fortitude shown by his men during the disasters of September 11th and the recent plane crash in Queens.

Sir Alistair Morton, the outgoing head of the Strategic Rail Authority, said Transport Secretary Stephen Byers' handling of Railtrack had done "tremendous damage".

And the Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram accused the Government of "stitching-up" the future of Gibraltar.

This week's transcripts:

The Home Secretary, David Blunkett

The BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson

United Nations Special Projects Director Shashi Tharoo

The chief of New York's fire service, Thomas von Essen

Sir Alistair Morton, the outgoing head of the Strategic Rail Authority

Shadow Foreign Secretary Michael Ancram