Papers ponder PM's Iran comments
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6494375.stm Version 0 of 1. The prime minister's comments on Iran's detention of 15 Royal Navy personnel are discussed in the papers. The Daily Telegraph says his first comments since the incident began appear to signal a hardening of attitudes after more than 48 hours of low-level diplomacy. For the Sun, Tony Blair's intervention came not a moment too soon.  The Express tells readers that the UK's politicians and diplomats need to be blessed with luck as well as skill in dealing with the situation. Assembly 'deal' The Times and the Guardian claim a deal has been reached to save the Northern Ireland Assembly from dissolution.  The Guardian says Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams will meet for the first time to try to agree terms of the establishment of a power-sharing executive. It says the Democratic Unionist leader and Sinn Fein president's meeting will break one final taboo of NI politics.  The Times says the government will grant Mr Paisley's request for a final delay in restoring the assembly. Cell keys The Daily Mail's lead says thousands of prisoners are being given keys to their cells, in what it calls the latest farce to hit the criminal justice system. They can roam in and out virtually at will, under a scheme designed to give them "respect and decency", it says. The paper says many of them are at open prisons and institutions for young offenders. However, it complains others are in standard closed prisons for those who have committed serious crimes. England blues It is the Monday blues for the sports writers after England's performance against Israel in the Euro 2008 qualifier in Tel Aviv. The force of their criticism is levelled at coach Steve McClaren, with the Sun saying it's time to deliver his P45.  The Express believes the goalless game is the start of the end of his tenure.  "England's bitter fans join chorus of disapproval," says the Independent describing how a "silent bank" of fans broke into a "rebellious chant". |