But as the truck full of frightened schoolgirls sped deeper into Boko Haram territory, two sisters clasped hands and jumped off together into the night.
The 71-year-old former minister, who once reputedly had the power to crown state premiers, sat quietly in the back of the crowded courtroom with his hands clasped as the magistrate dealt with the routine assaults, affrays and robberies that preceded his matter.
What better than to have a symbol of American capitalism clasped to Russia's bosom?
When Modi finally walked on stage, clasped hands outstretched, the crowd outside the stadium applauded wildly and chanted his name.
While she would remonstrate with me, he would remain still, his hands clasped on the table.
A small but seemingly growing number of Han Chinese, the country's ethnic majority, are attracted by Tibetan Buddhism (Han visitors to Kumbum Monastery thronged around its statues and clasped their hands in prayer during the recent festivities).
But the portly, mustachioed man who stood looking at him, in a short-sleeved white shirt and blue trousers, hands clasped awkwardly in front of him, was not smiling.Velupillai Prabhakaran always said this was the moment, four years into the war in September 1987, when he gave up any faith in non-violence.
Tanks have shelled hospitals and soldiers have shot dead five Palestinian medics.Television pictures of the "arrests" of 2,000 Palestinian men hands clasped behind heads, eyes blindfolded and army numbers stamped on their arms—horrified some Israelis.
The co-owner these days of Le Monde, a newspaper, and partner of the daughter of Bernard Arnault, boss of LVMH, a luxury group, Mr Niel is being clasped to the establishment's bosom.
There were smiles and clasped hands, but the shotgun marriage never looked happy.
In Britain this week, sharing a podium with their host, David Cameron, Britain's prime minister, the two men beamed, clasped hands and pledged what Mr Cameron called "an unprecedented level of co-operation".
