Papers assess fire strike stalemate

The government's next move in the firefighters' strike concerns most of the papers.

The Financial Times says it should be a defining moment in the fire dispute, yet Tony Blair risks losing his way in "dithering and compromise".

The paper calls for a firm stand against the firefighters to fend off an explosion in public sector pay.

The Sun says Labour's pledge to improve public services is in danger, but says it believes the government will eventually stand its ground, despite hints at a compromise from the deputy prime minister.

Its says "John Prescott might not be getting really tough on the fire union. But Gordon Brown sure as hell is - and that's music to our ears".

But The Guardian says public support for the strike is growing.

Euro-terror

There no sign of the recent security scares abating as The Times says counter-intelligence operations in Britain have uncovered a "lattice network" of cells, linked to Al-Qaeda, involved in plotting attacks throughout Europe.

The paper joins the Daily Express in reporting that the Slovak capital, Bratislava, has become a centre for terror groups wanting to operate in Europe.

Several papers take the government to task for recent statements on the possible risk of attack.

Instead of "contradictory rhetoric", a consistent and clear message is needed, says the Daily Mail adding that "the current confusion serves only to make us all feel insecure".

The Daily Telegraph believes the confusion is simply the noise of a government "groping ineptly in the dark".

Hindley charges

Nearly all the papers report that Moors murderer Myra Hindley could have faced fresh murder charges if the law had been changed to allow her release.

The Independent, the Guardian and the Telegraph all reveal that a file being prepared by the Crown Prosecution Service could have resulted in Hindley being charged with the murders of Keith Bennett and Pauline Reed - killings to which she had already confessed.

The Mail says Hindley's accomplice, Ian Brady, could still face the additional murder charges.

Silent victims

The Times and the Telegraph both highlight a campaign by Germany's biggest-selling paper, Bild, for recognition of the suffering experienced by German civilians during the Allied bombing campaign in the Second World War.

The newspaper is serialising a book by the historian, Jorg Friedrich, who claims the British government deliberately set out to kill as many German civilians possible, setting ablaze cities, churches and schools.

The Telegraph says the Bild campaign breaks six decades of "virtual silence" on the subject and reflects a growing belief among Germans that they too were victims of the war, albeit one started by their own country.

Toy story

Most of the papers carry the story of the shoplifter who was rumbled by his own haul.

Shaun Markey thought he had got away with it, after he stole a toy from a store in Hereford and managed to shake-off police by hiding under a bridge.

According to the Mail and the Daily Star, officers were about to give up when they heard an unexpected noise the electronic voice of the stolen Toy Story space hero, accidentally set-off by Mr Markey declaring: "Buzz Lightyear, permission to engage".