Papers see off NI watchtowers

"Watch them go" is the headline in the Sun, which reports how British Army watchtowers in Northern Ireland are set to be dismantled in the wake of the IRA's decision to begin decommissioning.

The Daily Express describes how "they stand brooding on the landscape, sentinels that scar the rugged beauty of South Armagh".

According to the Independent, the hills of South Armagh not only have eyes, but also ears - with the towers containing surveillance systems capable of listening to conversations in houses.

The Times believes the scrapping of the installations is "a dramatic gesture of goodwill".

Several of the papers suggest that the IRA's move needs to be treated with more caution.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Kevin Toolis argues that in military terms the provisionals' step is "almost meaningless".

He says the only real decommissioning the IRA will ever participate in will be when they have achieved their ultimate goal - a United Ireland.

Anthrax links

The Daily Telegraph carries an interview with Tony Blair, in which it says he gave the clearest hint yet that he would prefer to see Osama Bin Laden killed in the military action being waged in Afghanistan.

According to the paper the prime minister "displayed no shred of self-doubt" about the need to embark on military action, during the interview at Downing Street.

The Times reports that for the American public the war has been eclipsed by anthrax - which it says is the "real battle."

The Mail believes the US postal system is facing "paralysis" as fears over the disease spread.

As investigators struggle to find the source of the outbreak, the Mirror reveals that Osama Bin Laden bought anthrax spores by mail order. Under the headline "The Link", it claims he paid an Islamic separatist group in Indonesia £2,500 for the bacteria.

According to the Independent, the technology for producing anthrax in powdered form is "well within the capability of a skilled university graduate with access to funding."

The Telegraph suggests that the original source could be the British bio-defence establishment at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

Jury-dodging

Under a headline "No jury dodging for the wealthy", the Times reveals plans to overhaul the jury service system.

The paper says the exemptions, which have meant that professional people have been able to avoid serving, are to be removed.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is quoted as saying that the service "needs to be representative to be strong."

Petrol price plunge

The Express carries good news for motorists, reporting that the price of a gallon of petrol has been cut by around 9 pence.

It says Wednesday's reduction to the lowest level for almost three years follows a move by the small north of England supermarket chain, Morrisons.

Forecourts nationally have been forced to follow suit.

Hook and slice

There is a welcome development for golfers who are plagued by hook and slice in the Times.

It reveals how a new type of tee claims to guarantee an accurate shot.

The key to the invention is a cone shaped plastic striker behind the ball - which transmits the power of the club through the centre of the ball, lifting it along the direction the tee is facing.

However, there is a snag - the device will almost certainly fall foul of the rules of the game.