What the papers say

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

The deaths of six British soldiers in Iraq dominates the papers.

The Mirror says the troops were ambushed by rebels as they trained Iraqis to form a local police force.

The Guardian says the fragile peace there is fracturing, and soldiers paid the tragic price for US ineptitude.

The Daily Telegraph warns that coalition forces could become hostages to those trying to prevent the creation of a new Iraq.

The Irish Independent says the Americans and British are in danger of losing the second stage of war - the peace.

And the Mail warns that the guerrilla war could last for years.

Meanwhile, the Commons foreign affairs committee continues its inquiry into the government's second dossier on Iraq.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has already given his verdict on the document - "A complete horlicks".

The Mirror tells readers that "a horlicks" is parliamentary slang for a mess.

Plan to 'oust Trimble'

Back home, the Mirror claims that Unionist Party allies are turning against David Trimble.

It says close colleagues are planning to oust him as party leader before the end of the summer.

A veteran party member is quoted as saying: "There is a feeling we need a new leader that can unite the party before any possible assembly elections."

The Irish News reports that tour operator Thomson's has introduced new safety guidelines for families, which will be handed out on all its flights.

They will be known as Ryan's Rules, after Ryan Pearson, the five-year-old Dungannon boy who drowned while on holiday in Lanzarote in 2000.

Ryan's mother Olivia said the initiative is a fitting tribute to her little boy.

The News Letter looks at the plight of Ulster's apple growers, who face one of the worst years on record.

The Northern Ireland Fruitgrowers' Association has warned that the industry faces its worst crisis since 1962.

Harvest crisis

Many growers have halted maintenance of orchards for the season and are calling on the government to provide financial aid.

The News Letter says the apple harvest could dip as low as 15% of the normal total, and urges our Euro MPs to seek out European finance to tide the industry over until next year at least.

The judge in charge of the Flood Tribunal features on the front page of the Irish Independent.

It says the government is appealing to Mr Justice Feargus Flood to stay on as chairman of the planning tribunal until the controversial question of costs has been resolved.

The 74-year-old judge has told the cabinet he wants to step down.

The Taoiseach fears that if another chairman was to adjudicate on costs, difficulties like court challenges would arise.

Meanwhile, the Irish Times reveals that Bertie Ahern's government has invited offers from developers for a 2,000 seat national conference centre in Dublin.

The paper says the state has guaranteed to lease the centre in return for the private sector funding its building.

Not everything is planned with such efficiency.

The Guardian reveals that a report advising Rotherham Council how to save money and be efficient has been redrafted more than 12 times - at a cost of £12,000.