What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at Monday's morning newspapers.

There is a lot of interest in the results of the Republic of Ireland's general election in Monday's morning papers.

The Irish News calls it "the most dramatic Irish general election in living memory".

But above all, it says, it was a personal triumph for Bertie Ahern.

The paper acknowledges that he may not be regarded as the most charismatic of politicians and he has "certainly never presented himself as an intellectual heavyweight", but he has "the crucial ability to win the trust of ordinary people".

His triumph is good for Northern Ireland - it ensures stability for one aspect of the peace process and it increases the pressure on paramilitaries to move unambiguously into politics

News Letter

The News Letter harks back to the Charlie Haughey era. In those days, it says, Mr Ahern was "anorak man in among the mohair suits", but nobody was ever in any doubt about his ability.

In fact, the paper says, Mr Haughey himself described him as "the most devious operator in Irish politics". Praise indeed.

'Legitimate politics'

Today, the News Letter says, Mr Ahern is the "colossus of southern politics" with the prospect of five years of stable government ahead.

His triumph is good for Northern Ireland as well, it feels. It ensures stability for one aspect of the peace process and it increases the pressure on paramilitaries to move unambiguously into politics, it says.

The Irish Times agrees. It says there will be mixed feelings about the performance of Sinn Fein, but it can be argued that it is good to see them advance in legitimate politics.

There is anger among residents and community leaders who are calling for urgent action to stamp out the growing menace of so-called joyriding

Irish News

It helps to reinforce the peace process and it keeps republicans away from unconstitutional methods, says the paper.

And the paper reminds its readers that many Fianna Fail and Fine Gael grandfathers came into politics with a revolver in their pockets.

Both the Irish News and the Northern Ireland edition of the Mirror give their main headlines to that incident in west Belfast at the weekend when a car was stolen with a 10-month-old baby in the back.

'Growing menace'

Both papers have interviews with the woman who eventually discovered the child.

She tells the Mirror she found him screaming in the abandoned vehicle.

The Irish News says there is anger among residents and community leaders who are calling for urgent action to stamp out the growing menace of so-called joyriding.

The paper has also been talking to the police inspector who led the search for the baby and he thanks the local community for its help.

Among the cross-channel papers, the Independent, the Times and the Guardian highlight the disclosure by US intelligence officials that the Al Qaeda network may be planning another massive attack against the United States.

According to the Times headline, it is imminent - but neither the FBI nor the CIA have any idea of where or when.