What the papers say

Journalist Andy Wood takes a look at what is making the headlines in Wednesday's morning newspapers.

The Irish Times lead story casts doubt on the Irish Republic's traditionally neutral stance in time of war.

Political correspondent Mark Brennock says Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Foreign Minister Brian Cowen are deliberately crafting their statements on Iraq to leave open the possibility of supporting a US war without UN nor EU backing.

Iraq also leads the Irish Independent with coverage of a tape by Osama bin Laden calling for the Iraqi people to defend themselves against American attack and threatening revenge on any Arab state which helps the US.

Sharing front page honours with the Middle East in both papers is the decision by former Ireland captain Roy Keane to stop playing international football.

The Irish Independent says that Keane was "gung ho" to play for his country again when he met the new Ireland manager only last week.

The Irish Times leader says it "beggars belief" that Keane could not have convinced Sir Alex Ferguson that four or five international games a year would not jeopardise his health.

Police training

The Irish News leads with a claim that that the Waterside area of Derry is the favourite site for the new police training college, despite a tender stipulation that the new training facility should be within a 45-mile radius of Belfast.

It says that, if located in the north- west, the new college would also be able to train Garda Siochana recruits from northern counties like Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

The story is topped with a picture of police officers undertaking a search of Monday night's Enniskillen bomb site.

The News Letter leading article says the bomb attack is a reminder of how premature any demilitarisation policies by the government would be.

Pictures in three cross-channel papers, the Daily Express, Daily Telegraph and the Guardian, show the scenes as troops arrive at Heathrow airport.

The Telegraph chooses a shot of a passenger pushing her baggage trolley past a Scimitar light tank.

The Express picture strikes an ironic note with a sign reading "welcome to terminal three" clearly visible behind the tank, while the Guardian choice continues in similar vein.

The Independent chooses a grim picture of a severely malnourished four year old Iraqi boy.

The paper says Iraq's 12 million children - not Saddam Hussein and his henchmen - will be most vulnerable to the use of force.