What the papers say

Journalist Malachi O'Doherty takes a look at Friday's morning newspapers.

The beleaguered transport minister, so often accused of telling lies is now in trouble for perhaps telling the truth, that the government is planning to legislate for a referendum on the euro in the next session of parliament.

This government is not believed and everything it says is dismissed as spin

Peter Mandelson

"Liar Byers Tells the Truth" is how the Mail puts it, clearly believing what it calls a stunning indiscretion, though Number 10 dismissed it as complete nonsense.

The Daily Telegraph, likewise, believes Byers this time - "Byers Spills The Means".

The paper says that his comments caught the government off guard and raised fresh questions over his future in the cabinet.

"Byers disowned for euro poll claim" is the Independent headline.

'Disreputable spin'

"This government is not believed", says Peter Mandelson, "and everything it says is dismissed as spin."

That makes the lead in the Guardian, pushing the Byers story to the side.

Mr Mandelson says the government allowed spin to fall into disrepute through over use and misuse.

The other politician under scrutiny this morning is George Bush.

Several front pages report yesterday's White House admission that they had been warned of possible hijackings by Al Qaeda.

'No public warning'

The Guardian says that though the questioning is being directed at the White House, blame is being deflected onto the intelligence services.

The Independent says there are widespread calls for a full inquiry into why the Bush administration alerted law enforcement agencies but did not make the warning public, or take greater preventive measures.

The local newspapers lead on the finding of two men brutally murdered and dumped near Warrenpoint.

All of them say that the main line of inquiry now is that there is a homosexual link to the murders.

A police source told the Irish News: "We would have known by now if it was drugs or paramilitary related."

The News Letter singles out a comment for a sidebar, that these murders were "an act of great passion or great hatred".

Another strong front page issue with the Irish News is the complaint that so-called joyriders are not being properly dealt with.

Campaigners complain

The paper reports that the campaign group representing the families of the victims of joyriders will give the police the name of the driver who tried to run them off the road on their white line picket on Wednesday night.

The campaigners have asked for a meeting with the police to complain that their jeeps gave the car an escort out of the area.

In the south, the big story is today's general election and the Irish Times leads with a report that the parties there are all hoping for a large turnout.

Below that, the story of an Irish woman who was offered a surprise package at a market in Beijing.

Fiona Fenelan says she was approached by a woman and offered a newborn baby girl.

"You buy. You buy", said the woman. "How much you pay?"