What the papers say

Journalist Malachi O'Doherty takes a look at what is making the headlines in Tuesday's morning papers.

The Guardian has invited a range of people to write a letter to US President George Bush on the occasion of his state visit to Britain.

Michael Portillo thanks Bush for his leadership and congratulates him on organising his own security, since the British police could not protect the royal family from a joker dressed as bin Laden.

Harold Pinter suggests that when Bush is enjoying a tea party with fellow war criminal Tony Blair, he should wash down the cucumber sandwiches with a glass of blood.

Polly Toynbee urges Bush not to misunderstand the protests. We are not anti-American, she says, this is personal.

Palace perch

One photo image dominates the front pages of the London broadsheets too.

It shows Lindis Percy on top of the gates of Buckingham Palace protesting against the visit.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the police guard for Bush will be trebled amid fears of a terrorist attack.

Anti-war protesters have said they anticipate that 100,000 will march against the war during the visit and the paper says that radical Muslim groups have warned members to stay away because of the danger of an attack.

It is the Telegraphwhich makes the news in the other papers, or at least its owner, Conrad Black, who has had to resign in disgrace from the helm of his media empire - to quote the Guardian.

The Independent says Black faces an inquiry by US regulators into his financial affairs.

Beyonce makes it to the front pages of the Irish News and the News Letter.

The Irish News picture caption describes her as "bootylicious" and says she entertained the masses at the Odyssey. To the News Letter she is "dangerwoman".

Loyalist attack

The lead in the Irish News is that a Catholic man lost an eye in a vicious, loyalist attack.

The attackers pulled up beside him and one got out of the car and hit him on the head with a claw hammer.

The News Letter leads with a report on the death of Lisa May, a student from Dromore, County Down, who fell from a balcony while visiting a friend in Warwick.

The Irish Times looks at the work of the criminal assets bureau and says that it is to look at the arbitration award made to a controversial property company, with a view to seizing it.

The anxiety about the coming ban on smoking in public places produces news stories almost daily in the southern press as different sectors claim exemption.

The Irish Times reports that religious institutions and convents will be spared.