Threat of UK terror attacks leads papers

The threat of terror attacks on the UK and the prospect of military action against Iraq are focused on in many of Monday's papers.

The Times leads with extra security measures being taken by the UK in the war against terror.

It says Prime Minister Tony Blair will use his speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet tonight to call for traditional British resolve against the perceived heightened threat of an al-Qaeda attack on the UK.

The Times urges Mr Blair to be as specific as possible about the threat and trust the people to respond sensibly.

"It's impossible to be vigilant without knowing a little of what to be vigilant about," its editorial says.

But according to the Guardian officials acknowledge it is hard to call for vigilance without prompting panic and paralysis.

Both the Guardian and Financial Times say Mr Blair will also call for realism about the accuracy of intelligence warnings.

Action against Iraq

As the world waits for the official Iraqi response to the United Nations resolution on weapons inspections, several papers go into detail about the planning of a military campaign.

The Independent says the Bush administration is putting the finishing touches to a Blitzkrieg campaign to bring down President Saddam Hussein's regime.

The Daily Telegraph quotes advisers to President George W Bush who feel he now has a free hand to attack Saddam if he does not comply with the UN.

On its front page, the Guardian reports on the growing assumption by the British government the Iraqi leader will not co-operate fully with the UN inspectors and that is the calculation behind its preparations for war.

Royal rows

But it is the war apparently threatening to engulf the House of Windsor which covers the most newsprint - particularly in the tabloids.

The headline in the Daily Mail - Panic Grips The Palace - sets the tone, with general agreement that the affair is spinning out of control.

But many turn their guns on the Royal entourage.

The Telegraph questions why so many of them, particularly those working for Prince Charles, are willing to sell their stories to the newspapers and says St James' Palace is a world of intrigue and rivalry.

The Sun believes the monarchy has been shamed by its servants and calls for the Queen to clean out a "nest of vipers".

The Independent agrees the servants must go.

Cannabis triggers lung disease

The Independent, which has championed the decriminalisation of cannabis, leads with the British Lung Foundation report that highlights the dangers of the drug.

The report says there is growing evidence that the drug triggers lung disease, immune dysfunction and even psychotic delusion.

The Times says those behind the report intend it as a "wake-up call" to anyone who thinks using cannabis is without risk.

The Mail says the report shows up what it sees as the glaring inconsistency at the heart of the government's attitude to the drug.

The paper says the softly-softly approach on cannabis is putting the health of a generation of youngsters at risk.