What the papers say

Journalist Grania McFadden takes a look at Wednesday's morning newspapers

Loyalist Johnny Adair will not be at Drumcree this year, according to the Irish News.

The paper leads with reports that Adair has accused the Orange Order of hypocrisy over the protests.

Adair's spokesman John White tells the paper the Order was quick to condemn people for protesting, when it had asked them to come onto the streets.

It had "washed its hands" of the protests and as a result, loyalists from the lower Shankill would stay away this year.

The News Letter leads with the inquest hearing into the helicopter crash in which rally driver Bertie Fisher and two of his children died.

Commemoration

The paper reports surviving son Roy Fisher as saying: "I was fast asleep. I woke up and my dad and sister were praying. A minute later the helicopter crashed."

Both Belfast papers speculate about the role to be played by the city's Lord Mayor in the forthcoming Somme commemorations.

The Irish News says Sinn Fein's Alex Maskey may lay a wreath for the commemoration, which has traditionally been boycotted by his party.

The News Letter comments that if Mr Maskey is prepared to play a leading role in making Belfast a city of equals, he deserves to be supported.

The London papers concentrate on the political fall-out over the Middle East.

Inquiry

Several warn that Tony Blair is in danger of opening a damaging rift with America, by refusing to back President Bush's demand that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat steps down.

The Independent examines European reaction, claiming that the difference of view represents a considerable problem for the EU. Up until now, it has tied its Middle East policy to that of America.

The Daily Express leads with claims that detectives have launched an inquiry into a security breach which allows terrorists to eavesdrop on bodyguards protecting the Royal Family.

The paper says radio frequencies used by police guarding the royals and top politicians have been posted on the internet by a group of British radio enthusiasts.

The same frequencies are used by the armed forces, customs and airline pilots.

The Express says Scotland Yard believes Islamic militants and other dangerous individuals are logging on to the website and using the information to track the movements of potential targets.

The Mirror is one of several papers to claim that aspirin could cut the chances of getting lung cancer.

It reports that new research has found that women who took aspirin three or four times a week for at least six months drastically cut the risks of contracting the disease.

The Irish Times examines the price being paid by the Republic for its switch to the euro.

A new study shows the south is now the second most expensive region in the euro zone, compared with its position of eighth dearest in 1995.