Experts predicted Kenya's presidential ballot would be the closest in four decades of independence. But it turned out to be even more dramatic.
Here are some key quotes compiled by Reuters:
"This government has lost all legitimacy and cannot govern ... I wish to appeal to President Mwai Kibaki to acknowledge and respect the will of the people of Kenya and honourably concede defeat." -- opposition presidential candidate Raila Odinga, leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) talks tough.
"Those are noises ... Any other kangaroo results given by any Tom, Dick or Harry deserve every contempt." -- a spokesman for Kibaki's Party of National Unity (PNU) laughs at opposition.
"How many times have we met mad people on the road saying 'I own this shop,' and the man has no trousers? I can even announce that I am president of Kenya. Will that make me president of Kenya?" -- Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Samuel Kivuitu calls for an end to premature victory declarations.
"Almighty God, whoever wins, we pray there will not be bloodshed." -- presidential candidate and pastor Pius Mwangi Muiru calls on party agents and journalists, crammed into a chaotic ECK results briefing, to bow their heads in prayer.
"This election should be won by the ballot, not by shouting." -- Justice Minister Martha Karua yells for order.
"These guys don't know how to rig properly, like Moi used to." -- Kenyan TV anchorwoman overheard accidentally live on air, referring to former President Daniel arap Moi.
"The looters say they have decided to attack shops because the ECK is taking too long to announce the results of the election. But what do the shops have to do with the commission?" -- Kisumu police chief Grace Kaindi wonders at looters' motives.
"The government has failed to declare Odinga a winner. They stole our votes, we are looting everything we can. I am so happy. This will be a celebration." -- Kennedy Ochieng, an 11-year-old weighed down by a box of stolen property, explains himself.
"There is a massive question mark over the tally of votes. Our observers have been sent away from tallying centres without being given results." -- chief European Union election monitor Alexander Graf Lambsdorff reserves his final judgment
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL30148216.html