Papers ponder UK Basra handover

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The Sun sums up Gordon Brown's visit to Iraq and announcement that Basra is to be put into Iraqi control with the words: "Happy Christmas - War is over".

The Daily Telegraph is not so sure, saying it thinks the prime minister was just hinting at an end to British involvement in Iraq.

The Times points out Mr Brown believes economic development is key for Iraq.

But it reports some Iraqis fear Basra has fallen victim to lawless gangs and an "Iranian-inspired morality police".

Afghan army test

Britain's role in fighting the Taleban for control of the Afghan town Musa Qala is also examined by the Times.

Success there would be of symbolic importance as it is the only Afghan town undeniably under Islamist control, writes the paper's Bronwen Maddox.

The Telegraph says the Afghan army claims it has captured two Taleban commanders trying to escape the town.

The battle is the first major test of the Nato-trained Afghan army, according to the Guardian.

Primary tests

Children's Secretary Ed Balls is set to unveil what the Times calls a "radical shake-up" of primary education.

It says annual national curriculum tests will be replaced by twice-yearly tests pitched to each child's level.

The Sun asks how we will be able to judge children's progress if they take different tests at different times.

The Independent agrees change is needed but warns the government is deluded if it thinks it can re-model everything in children's lives by Whitehall edict.

British cheese vision

Splashed across the fronts of the Sun, Daily Mail and Daily Mirror are pictures of Anne Darwin being escorted by police at Manchester airport.

Inside, the Mail has a spread from its reporter who flew with her from the US.

Finally, the Times has news that French cheese makers are looking to the UK for advice on how to halt a decline in the production of unpasteurised cheeses.

"Britain has a modern vision of cheese and you're showing us the direction we should go," one producer says.