Jewish groups and foreign governments, including America's, remained silent about the affair, as negotiators worked behind the scenes to secure their release.

ECONOMIST: Iran

He said Lesley had never found out about the affair with a woman he worked with at Queen's University, Belfast.

BBC: Colin Howell admits flicking wife with live cable

California Republican John Doolittle is wrapped up in the Abramoff affair, not only because he worked closely with the lobbyist and took donations from him, but because Abramoff's lobbying firm employed Doolittle's wife (as well as DeLay's).

NPR: Signs of a Wider, Deeper Scandal in Congress

Yet western diplomats, in particular, were quick to declare the affair a body-blow to Mr Khatami, who has worked assiduously to improve Iran's relations with the West.

ECONOMIST: Iran

Having worked tirelessly to achieve a position of gentlemanly respectability, neither a divorce nor an open affair was an option.

ECONOMIST: Charles Dickens

We're supposed to be getting worked up over a talented writer flushing his hopes down the toilet through an escalating love affair with drugs, while simultaneously laughing at how shallow those dreams are in the first place.

CNN: Review: Too much junkie business in 'Permanent Midnight'