What the papers say

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

American envoy Richard Haass has been unhelpful or wise, depending on which paper you read.

On the front of the News Letter, he is criticised by MP Jeffrey Donaldson, after he said the Ulster Unionist Party should offer more leadership "instead of following its constituents".

Mr Donaldson says the real lack of leadership exists in republicanism, "which has failed to take its people away from violence".

The Irish News, on the other hand, comments that Mr Haass delivered a blunt but useful message and his words were wise.

The prime minister is endangering Britain's military effectiveness in a conflict which will start soon

Daily Telegraph

The paper says he was right to identify policing as the central issue, and it believes that if difficulties in this area can be resolved, then other outstanding matters will fall into place.

If all those involved in the inter-party talks display a positive and flexible attitude, it says, then "significant progress is well within our grasp".

'Civilised ways'

All the cross-channel broadsheets report on their front pages on a claim by the Chief of the Defence Staff that the Army's effectiveness will be damaged by the fire strike due to start on Friday.

The Daily Telegraph accuses the prime minister of endangering Britain's military effectiveness in a conflict which it believes will start soon.

Political manoeuvring at the UN has been exposed as a charade, and there must be a full and free debate in the House of Commons

The Express

The Guardian also turns on Tony Blair, accusing him of failing to do enough to protect the country against the threat of terrorism - a theme that is expressed even more strongly in the News Letter.

It claims that in the name of a war on terror, "we are increasing the level of terror in the world".

The paper says there needs to be more civilised ways of resolving disputes - not just because it is right, "but because our very survival demands it".

The Express says Britain is moving inexorably towards war, and George Bush has turned the NATO summit in Prague into a recruiting rally.

Picture

It says the political manoeuvring at the UN has been exposed as a charade, and there must be a full and free debate in the House of Commons before British troops are sent to fight for America's president.

The widest coverage in Thursday's papers goes to a man in a black fedora, about to perform Britain's first post mortem examination in public for 170 years.

The Daily Telegraph has a picture showing Professor Gunther Von Hagens about to plunge a scalpel into the chest of his subject. But the Mail goes a stage further.

Its picture was taken part of the way into what it calls "the goriest show on earth".

The paper says this was nothing to do with science, and The Guardian agrees. Dr Von Hagens might have had good intentions, it says, but they were undone by the gawping voyeurism that such a spectacle entails.