Europe reflects statesman's killing

Dutch far right politician Pym Fortuyn may have divided his country while alive, but in death he has united it, say Wednesday's morning papers.

The Times says there has been a "huge, spontaneous, outpouring of emotion" in the Netherlands since Mr Fortuyn's death but it warns against letting the man become a martyr.

Several of the papers also urge other European countries to learn lessons.

The Independent says the Netherlands - likewise the rest of Europe - should now examine the roots of Mr Fortuyn's unlikely appeal.

The Daily Mail says the rise of the far Right is a warning that the smug certainties of Europe's liberal elite are by no means as solidly-based as the political classes would like to think.

The Daily Express believes the rise of right wing parties across Europe is one explanation for the increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Britain.

The paper's front page shows a picture of dozens of illegal immigrants apparently preparing to board an unguarded freight train at a yard near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France.

Israel bomb

Later editions of the papers carry the suicide bomb attack near Tel Aviv.

"Israel Peace Hopes Blown Apart" is the stark headline in the Sun.

The Guardian says the suicide bomber struck with provocative timing - and devastating force.

The Times has a front page showing the site of the blast and says Yasser Arafat will be under pressure to condemn the bombing and track down those responsible.

The attack can only undermine Mr Arafat's position, says the Independent but it hits equally at Ariel Sharon's massive military onslaught in the West Bank - designed to end suicide bombings.

Bethlehem

The perils of international diplomacy are highlighted by several of the papers which report on the collapse of a proposed agreement to end the siege at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The Guardian says the planned deal was scuppered by an "elementary error" - that being that nobody bothered to inform the main player.

The Daily Express the whole plan ended in scenes of international farce.

Cocaine smuggling

Drug smugglers are threatening to overwhelm customs officers -- according to a special investigation by the Daily Mirror.

Under the headline Cocaine Air, the paper says that, on two recent flights to the UK from Jamaica, 27 of the passengers were smuggling cocaine and cannabis.

Customs officers and police at Heathrow Airport cannot cope, claims the paper - having only eight cells to house around 200 suspected drug couriers arrested every week. Its editorial calls for more resources for customs officers.

Media changes

The government's plan to change the rules on media ownership dominate many of the broadsheets.

Most predict the proposal will pave the way for Rupert Murdoch to take over Channel Five. The Independent is alarmed at such a prospect warning that "the consequences for the future of British television could be grim indeed".

It worries Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, is "creating an environment in which media power will be in ever fewer hands".

But both the Guardian and the Financial Times note that a rule preventing newspaper tycoons from buying more than 20% of an ITV licence should keep Mr Murdoch's ambitions capped.

Unsurprisingly, the Times - part of the Murdoch stable - welcomes the scheme saying it marks a more sophisticated understanding from the Culture Department of the need for light touch regulation - powerfully enforced.

Byers news

Transport Secretary, Stephen Byers seems to have become the bad news of his own department.

Many papers centre on the disclosure from his department that he made a mistake when he announced in the Commons that his former press officer, Martin Sixsmith, had resigned.

Mr Sixsmith has now agreed a severance deal, which, the Sun says leaves Mr Byers' credibility in "tatters".

The Daily Telegraph describes him as "unfit for office in any government department" and in the Daily Mail he is accused of "woeful incompetence". "His survival in office is a huge discredit to this government", adds the paper.

Queen Mother

Details of the Queen Mother's will are to remain secret, says the Times.

The will was expected to be published later this week but the paper says the Queen has decided it should remain private - an announcement said to have angered some Labour MPs.

Alan Williams tells the paper the Queen Mother should be treated like everybody else.

Suffering for art

A performance artist is preparing to suffer for his art, reports the Times.

Artist Franko B is to cut his own stomach and then invite an audience to look at the wound.

The unusual show is due to take place at an arts festival in the West Midlands this month.

The festival's director says Franko's main canvas is his own body.

Shadow culture secretary, Tim Yeo, says the event sounds "absolutely absurd".