What the papers say

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

The political talks at Hillsborough Castle provide the front page pictures for two of Wednesday morning's papers.

The Irish Times has a shot of Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in what looks like a mildly cheerful mood at the Castle entrance.

The Irish Independent shows the DUP's Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson arriving with a rather more determined set to their faces.

"Going in to say he's staying out" is how that picture is captioned.

The further into the papers you get, the more downbeat is some of the reporting.

"Nothing doing" is how the News Letter describes the outcome of the meeting, with the paper's political correspondent Ciaran McKeown reporting "no apparent progress on any specific issue at the end of a long afternoon".

The song's sentiments summarise the dogged pointlessness with which both prime ministers face the apparently endless political trail facing them Brian Feeney Irish News

The paper's editorial column - headlined "Dark dangers of further drift looming" - argues that precisely because "expectations were so abysmally low for the summit" the outcome actually allowed for a glimmer of hope based on "solid realism".

"There are solid difficulties in the very short term," the News Letter admits, but it says that after 10 years of conflict management it "should be possible for all concerned to keep their eyes on the larger prize of enduring peace".

Irish News columnist Brian Feeney looks to the Harry Lauder song "Keep Right On To The End Of The Road" for his inspiration.

He writes that the song's sentiments summarise "the dogged pointlessness" with which both prime ministers face the apparently endless political trail facing them.

'A perilous course'

Mr Feeney asserts that "neither Mr Blair nor Mr Ahern - nor their officials - have a clue about what else to do, except to plod along waiting for either Sinn Fein or the DUP to make a move".

"Peace is the only solution" is how the Irish News tops its leader column - but its focus is on the Middle East following the killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin.

Israel is about to up the stakes with a decision to eliminate the entire leadership of Hamas and other militant groups The Guardian

The paper argues that "since Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is not a stupid man, he must have calculated the consequences of his decision to sanction the killing".

"But he has embarked on a perilous course which will put many lives in danger and which has the capacity to further destabilise the Middle East," says the paper.

'Fatal misjudgements'

It is the continuing tension in the Middle East which dominates the heavier cross-channel papers.

The Guardian claims that Israel is about to up the stakes with a decision to eliminate "the entire leadership of Hamas and other militant groups".

It quotes the country's security minister as saying "anyone leading a terrorist group knows there is no immunity - everyone is in our sights".

The Daily Telegraph and Independent focus on the inquiry into the 11 September attacks, with the Independent writing of "the shocking evidence of secret deals, missed chances and fatal misjudgements".

It says President Bush's credibility was "again undermined" by revelations that warnings about al-Qaeda were ignored and that the Clinton White House was responsible for "a catalogue of failed diplomatic initiatives" aimed at persuading the Taliban to expel al-Qaeda from Afghanistan".

On a lighter note, the Mail and Express both give front page treatment to the news that TV presenter Des O'Connor is to be a father again at the age of 72.

The Mail's headline has a bit of a bite: "Veteran entertainer expects his fifth by a fourth mother", while the Express chooses "What a trooper".