On Tuesday, the world saw the hijacking of four American passenger jets and the attack by terrorists on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washing-ton using three of them. Some 5,000 people are feared dead in the attack. We asked the man/ woman-in-the-street for their comments:

Meer Mohamed - student: `It is sad to know that lives and livelihoods have been lost but it is equally sad that America will want to retaliate in the same way or in a more heavy-handed way. How can America set an example to the rest of the world as a leader and the beacon of democracy when it is bent on doing the same as the terrorists? Right now the solutions should be finding the terrorists without the loss of more innocent lives. The terrorists would have their own reasons, which they feel were genuine, to take their lives and others without showing the fear they did in carrying out their act of terrorism. In retaliation, America should not attack innocent civilians because innocent people are innocent people. Of course I have relatives and friends in New York who I care about because I know that many will become victims of race hate and other forms of discrimination because of who they are and what they look like. When I viewed the events unfolding I did so with mixed emotions because in many ways, I felt that America would have provoked such a brutal attack on the country by persons who felt that their people or country were victims of America's foreign policy.'

Richard De Ramos - deputy head master: `It is a most tragic thing when innocent hard-working people, going about their daily business, have to suffer because of the spin-off of their country's foreign policy. It also shows Americans are very vulnerable. The attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the lives lost is a result of America's foreign policy on the Middle East and its perception of Muslim politics. Poor countries, suffering because of American foreign policy know that they cannot attack America's military might so they attack vulnerable targets. Unfortunately, however, attacking an institution like the World Trade Center is not like attacking the Pentagon or say even the White House. Attacking the World Trade Center was attacking the rest of the world because persons of every nationality in the world worked there. The US and peace-loving countries should do everything possible to stamp out this kind of new form of terrorism that has raised its ugly head. It is making travel unsafe. In retaliating, the Americans should find the terrorists. They should not go after the people of Afghanistan because they have sheltered the prime suspect Osama bin Laden. If they do that I think we'll end up with another Vietnam situation. The only thing is that more countries would get involved. Because of America's power, everything is now contingent on the next move the Americans make.'

Olive Damon - butcher: `I have a sister, other relatives and friends living in New York and I cannot help thinking about them at this time. What has happened is very calculated, gruesome and sad. Sad because those who planned it knew the consequences. At this moment, I think they are even prepared for the consequences. But like those who perished in the Twin Towers and at the Pentagon and in the plane that crashed over Pennsylvania, it will be the innocent who will pay. Those who planned the attacks were ruthless. I think the Americans should now go behind the perpetrators and bring them to justice. I don't feel that they should start attacking Arab and Muslim countries, which gave refuge to bin Laden whom they believe was responsible for the attacks. If they do so they may be attacking innocent people and that would be against the essence of democracy. America has been known to stick its face in everybody's business and use its wealth as well. Because of the US government's fault the ordinary and innocent people must now suffer. If America goes to war many developing countries would suffer because we have come to depend on America for everything and that was what America wanted. We depend wholly on America for wheat, for instance.'

Patrick - businessman: - `I am just angry and upset by what has happened...innocent lives snuffed out by selfish people. I just hope the US government could catch the criminals responsible and deal with them accordingly. However, I don't think that the US should just go after a country and fire missiles or drop bombs willy nilly on any country. Because they will be committing an act of terrorism on that country as well. We are human beings and human beings should not live like that. There should be a way out. It is really sad to follow the television coverage. I have a sister working in New York and my mother also lives there. I know they are safe and neither of them was anywhere near but I am still very concerned.'

Suzanne Williams - student: `It was a terrible disaster. Lots of innocent people attacked innocently and unexpectedly. I felt for them. I have relatives and friends living and working in the US but thank God they were nowhere near, I hope, at the time. I could only imagine the nightmare. The US government should do all in its power to bring all those individuals and groups involved in the heinous crime, to justice. They should be made to pay and to be made an example of what could befall them when they do something like this. Seeing it on television all day long, I can only sympathise. However, I don't think the Americans will take things easy. They would want to retaliate. They have the backing to do whatever they feel they should do regardless of the consequences. I think they should leave everything in the hands of God. However, knowing America's reactions to previous violations, I just get the feeling that this is the start of a war. As such I think the whole world will be affected because of the attack on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.'

Claudia Crawford - public sector employee: `I have brothers and sisters and two of my children living in New York so I was horrified by the events unfolding and I cried a lot because I did not know if anyone of them was anywhere in the vicinity and I had not heard from them. I gather though that they are fine. I think if Osama bin Laden is responsible for the attacks then America should do all within her power to bring him and his followers to justice. I don't think that America should attack Afghanistan or other countries that sheltered him because that would be the start of a World War. You'll have persons drafted in to fight against their own as America is now home to nationals from all over the world.'

Leila Persaud - housewife: `I was panicking and moved to tears because my children, their spouses and grandchildren all live in New York and other parts of America. However, I have since learnt that they were all safe. The Americans are saying it was terrorist attacks so in the wake of what has happened, I think they should tighten up on security. They have got to be more vigilant. America would want to use military force to retaliate but I would be fearful about this. America should first consider its nationals both in and out of the country. Not all Americans are Caucasian and not every Black person an African national, so America should consider innocent people first. Two wrongs don't make a right. However, they cannot allow the terrorists to get away either.'

Rukmin Mohan - sales representative: `The attack was very devastating and criminal. I am horrified by the innocent lives lost and the grief, pain and sorrow the survivors now experience and the future they will have to face without their loved ones. I don't think America deserves this kind of treatment because it is one of the biggest and wealthiest countries in the world and helps poor countries. I hope they find a way to get justice but I don't want America just going out and attacking countries because they feel that those countries are not friendly because that could start a World War and lots of lives would be lost.'

Edward Singh - teacher: `This whole thing is outrageous. It is an attack on humanity. They should not have launched such an attack on America but use the fora available and negotiate. If bin Laden is so guilty then the Americans should go after him. I think they will retaliate in a vicious way and Afghanistan and Pakistan among other Arab countries will suffer. Anybody looking like and Asian or an Arab will also be made to suffer not only in the Arab countries but in America, too. Everything that has happened is so unbelievable. I have a brother who works as a contractor next to the Twin Towers and fortunately for him he was due to leave for work ten minutes before the first attack was launched so he was forewarned.'

Allison Teixeira - student: `The attack was really, really sad. Look how many innocent lives have been lost because of the attack by the terrorists. It is frightening. America I feel should retaliate and do whatever it could to bring the terrorists to justice.
I don't think war is the solution because it will bring hardships to other countries across the world including America.'