What the papers say

Journalist Keith Baker takes a look at Thursday's morning newspapers

There is a lot of interest in that story about a new IRA hit list with details of judges, politicians and other prominent figures on it.

It's headlined in several of the papers. The Mirror says Sinn Fein has dismissed the revelation, calling it a smokescreen to divert attention away from the recent collusion claims.

But Unionists tell the paper that once again the IRA ceasefire is under question.

In the News Letter Michael McGimpsey says that either Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness are insincere or else they have lost control of the movement they represent.

He urges the prime minister to stand up for the people of Northern Ireland.

Their patience is running out, he says.

'Opposition'

The Irish News and Irish Times have front page stories about Alex Maskey's decision to lay a wreath at the Somme commemoration next week.

According to the Irish Times, the move has caused much internal dissent in Sinn Fein with strong opposition from activists in the Mid-Ulster area.

The paper says they've argued that the entire day is steeped in British militarism and there's no need to make a gesture to Unionists who prevented Sinn Fein from securing the Lord Mayor's position for years.

The Irish News points out that Unionists are critical of Mr Maskey because he's laying the wreath before the actual ceremony and he won't be taking part in that event himself.

The former Lord Mayor Jim Rodgers tells the paper that when he was in the job he visited Catholic places of worship, schools and the GAA. Why is he differentiating, he wonders.

Issue

Well, all the political to-ing and fro-ing at Hillsborough on Wednesday is reported.

The Irish Times and the News Letter headline the fact that the parties have agreed to meet more often.

But David Trimble's absence from the proceedings is noted. In fact, according to the Irish News, it was the main talking point.

The paper says his stand-in Dermot Nesbitt was asked repeatedly about the issue but he became fed up with this line of questioning and finally urged journalists not to concentrate on personalities.

In the cross-channel papers, all eyes are on the scandal involving the American firm WorldCom.

If you're worried about what it all means you won't get much comfort from the Express which carries the headline "Panic... and it's going to get worse".

The Guardian writes of stock markets around the world reeling after the biggest corporate fraud in history.

The Daily Telegraph concentrates on President Bush's demand for a full investigation and it notes that Gordon Brown has been seeking to reassure investors that such a disaster couldn't happen here.