Papers ponder Britons' release

The release of the Britons jailed in Saudi Arabia on bombing charges is seen by the Guardian as the climax of months of negotiations between London and Riyadh.

It says, the diplomacy was designed to ensure the Saudi regime did not lose face, despite mounting evidence of the men's innocence.

For the Times, the men were the fall guys who paid the price for the state's attempt to cover up a terror attack.

The paper argues the deal means they will have no way of clearing their names.

The Financial Times believes the decision to free them was a tacit admission terrorists were the more probable perpetrators of a series of bomb attacks.

It also detects growing signs the Saudi regime is finally acknowledging the dangers of home-grown extremists.

Iraq 'a hollow victory'

It has been 100 days since President George W Bush declared the war in Iraq was over.

But the Independent is worried about what has happened since then.

Many people are still without power, one in 12 children are suffering from malnutrition, and 57 American soldiers have been killed since the first of May - half as many as were killed during the actual war.

The paper urges the Americans to give the UN a lead role in reconstructing Iraq, because they cannot do it on their own.

The Daily Mirror is in no doubt that President Bush's talk of victory in May now sounds hollow.

Iraq, it says, is turning into a quagmire from which Mr Bush and Tony Blair will find it increasingly difficult to extricate themselves.

In a sign of the problems in the country, the Times reports that a lone Iraqi police captain is investigating the bombing at the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad on Thursday.

Women could get free IVF

The Daily Mail expresses reservations about plans to give infertile women under the age of 40 free IVF treatment on the NHS.

It predicts the decision by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence will trigger a major controversy over how the NHS can pay for the treatment.

Yes, people want babies says the paper but how would they feel about having them at the expense of the cancer patient in the next ward?

Church schism

The scale of the task facing the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, is summed up by the Financial Times: Dr Williams needs to toughen up and live up to the high expectations of spiritual and inspirational leadership, if he is to avoid a schism among Anglicans worldwide on the issue of homosexuality.

The Daily Telegraph thinks his decision to hold a summit of Anglican primates signals his determination to remain in control of the situation.

However, the Guardian concludes this is unlikely to ease the turmoil within the Anglican community.

And the Times also offers a gloomy assessment of his prospects, predicting a schism is almost inevitable.

Tourism boom

The continuing warm spell has been a welcome boost for seaside resorts and the brewers, but, as the Guardian points out, it has also shown how Britain cannot cope with hot weather.

Apparently the reason why Britons struggle so much is they do not adapt well to extreme weather.

However, the paper suggests if scientists are to be believed, we will have to get used to coping with hot spells.

The Times predicts it will be the most lucrative weekend of the year for seaside businesses.

The paper features a cartoon of a lady wearing a hat with the label: "Kiss Me Quick. I'm Sweating".