Troop 'pullout' dominates papers

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The expected announcement of a timetable for the withdrawal of UK troops from Iraq is reported widely in Wednesday's papers.

The Guardian sees it as the start of the "British endgame".

The Times says the decision will be welcomed by sceptics as a signal that the government is prepared to show its independence from the US.

But the Daily Mail suggests that Tony Blair has been forced to delay the pullout after pressure from the US.

Tough stance

The Office of Fair Trading's conclusion that drugs companies are charging the NHS too much for medicines is welcomed by the Daily Mirror.

The paper accuses the pharmaceutical giants of over-charging hospitals for far too long.

It says it is time that the NHS took a tougher stance with the companies.

And the Daily Telegraph, which is also uneasy, argues that hospitals should not provide the funds for private firms to carry out research.

Bank criticism

The Independent, for the second consecutive day, devotes its front page to the campaign against bank charges.

Meanwhile, the Sun joins in this criticism, offering its readers four easy steps to try to recover charges from the banks.

And the Daily Star is outraged by suggestions banks are may soon charge monthly fees on current accounts.

The paper argues that banks should be trying to win back public confidence rather than planning further charges.

Health fears

The Mail devotes its front page to an EU study which says British people are the fattest in Europe.

A quarter of women and a fifth of all men are said to be so overweight that their health is at serious risk.

The paper fears that the figures supports the theory that Britain is facing a public health time bomb.

Amid such concerns, the Daily Express offers its female readers advice on how to lose weight and protect themselves against heart disease.