What the papers say

Journalist Mike Philpott takes a look at what is making the headlines in Friday's morning newspapers.

The cabinet reshuffle is far and away the biggest story of the morning.

The Daily Telegraph says the biggest beneficiaries are the people it describes as "Labour's hard men who are renowned for their macho qualities".

The Independent describes Charles Clarke, John Reid and Paul Murphy as three of the toughest characters at Westminster.

According to the Times, Tony Blair has "pushed his big guns up to the front line".

There is no substitute for local politicians assuming control of our affairs

News Letter

The Mirror and the Guardian both question the wisdom of moving John Reid from the Northern Ireland Office at such a sensitive time in the peace process.

But there is a general welcome on this side of the water for the effects of the reshuffle at Stormont.

The News Letter says "the early return of devolution must be the first objective".

"While politicians like Paul Murphy and John Reid may have the best interests of the people of Northern Ireland at heart," it says, "there is no substitute for local politicians assuming control of our affairs."

The Irish News welcomes Mr Murphy, but says: "He will have to use all his skills to rebuild strained relationships and create a climate in which progress becomes possible."

'Potential'

The paper urges all those involved to "give him a chance".

The Irish Times regards the appointment as "a signal that the British Government does not foresee an early resolution of the difficulties".

It believes Mr Murphy has a tough job ahead of him.

The Irish Independent says that, for once, Northern Ireland has a secretary of state who won't have to learn his way into the job.

It believes Mr Murphy's arrival has the "potential to give the jaded political process the injection of energy that it needs".

The two major international stories - the siege at the Moscow theatre and the arrest of two men by police investigating the Washington sniper attacks - attract the majority of the biggest headlines.

The army background of one of the suspects will be another embarrassment for the military establishment

The Independent

Most papers agree that the theatre siege is the biggest crisis of Vladimir Putin's presidency.

The Times says he is as much of a hostage as the theatre-goers, and has few options.

The Telegraph says he needs political finesse instead of brute force, while the Financial Times believes he may have to make concessions over Chechnya, the homeland of the hostage-takers.

Many writers struggle to find a motive for the sniper killings.

Most opt for hatred of America as the cause.

"Whatever the reason," says the Independent, "the army background of one of the suspects will be another embarrassment for the military establishment, after the Oklahoma bombing, perpetrated by another former soldier, Timothy McVeigh."

Finally, the Sun has embarrassing news about some lovers of wildlife in Yorkshire.

It reports that bird-watchers flocked to a town in the county after a rare owl was spotted, having apparently taken up residence on top of a telegraph pole.

It turned out to be a plastic model, placed there to scare off pigeons.