But these are just two parts of the real explanation: sports, like modern society, is crumbling, and the loosening of the foundation is causing the deplorable acts.

Hypocritical actions of one government cannot serve as grounds to justify or exonerate deplorable acts by other governments.

Secretary-general of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon called it a "deplorable act of violence".

The joint statement said that "These deplorable acts will only further impoverish the country and deprive future generations of the Malagasy people from their unique natural heritage."

"No religion tolerates the slaughter and beheading of innocent people, and there is no justification for such a dishonorable and deplorable act."

In a statement, President Bush thanked Saudi Arabia for its assistance in the investigation of what he called a "deplorable act of terrorism."

This is a most deplorable act.

In this first incarnation, he was portrayed as a deviant child with a vicious nature, shown committing deplorable acts with his sister.

But he avoids making moral judgments by treating every deplorable act as a symptom of error or madness.

The 34-nation forum last week had condemned the ouster of Mr. Chávez and the "deplorable acts of violence" that took place.