Papers focus on Sierra Leone tension

The role of British forces in Sierra Leone continues to make the front pages.

The Telegraph and the Daily Mail report that UN peacekeepers from Nigeria have threatened to shoot British soldiers in Sierra Leone after several days of growing tension between the two allies.

The Telegraph claims there is a growing sense in Freetown that the African peacekeepers resent the role of paratroops from the UK in restoring order to a battlefield in their own backyard.

The Times says Britain's military involvement creates a dilemma for the government: the better the troops perform, the greater the demand for them to stay.

The Mail, though, has little confidence in the Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon. Even after his statement to the Commons on Monday, it says, "it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the government is making up policy as it goes along".

RUC reform

As the government prepares to publish its bill on the reform of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, there is speculation over how the issue of changing the name of the force will be resolved.

The Times claims the government is to refer the proposed name change to the new Northern Ireland Police Board, which is due to begin work next Spring.

The Irish News agrees, but a spokesman for the SDLP is quoted as saying that his party would be "extremely disappointed and unhappy" with any attempt to put off a decision.

'Tarzan' for mayor

According to the Guardian, the former deputy Prime Minister, Michael Heseltine, was approached by William Hague last year to join the contest to become Mayor of London, because of concerns of further scandals following Jeffrey Archer's exit from the race.

A "senior insider" tells the paper the Conservative leadership was afraid that any new revelations about Steve Norris's private life could have undermined his campaign.

But, the Guardian reports, Mr Heseltine flatly rejected Mr Hague's overtures.

So-called "close Heseltine allies" say the MP for Henley would not have hesitated in saying no to a hands-on job which might have undermined his health.

Short, sharp shocks

A number of papers speculate on the likely contents of the Home Secretary's speech to the Central Probation Council.

Both the Mirror and the Independent report that Jack Straw will announce plans to sentence young offenders to what they call "short, sharp" prison terms.

The Independent believes sending youngsters to jail will further anger the penal reform lobby.

The Mirror is concerned that the Home Secretary is planning to revive a policy already tried by the Conservatives in the 1980s - and dismissed by some as a gimmick.

Immunisation campaign

The Express devotes its front page - and three inside pages - to the launch of its campaign for proper compensation for children left brain damaged by vaccinations against illnesses such as diphtheria and whooping cough.

It highlights the case of fifteen year old Gregg Draper from Scots Gap in Northumberland who, the paper says, developed severe disabilities after being given routine jabs as a baby.

The Express leader column insists Britain's immunisation programme has been "remarkable and successful" at stamping out life-threatening conditions.

But it goes on to say that if society believes in the public health benefits of immunisation, it must also accept its responsibilities to the children whose lives have been ruined by it.

Save the Sparrow

And finally, the Independent takes up the cause of the passer domesticus - better known as the humble house sparrow.

It says the "sudden and dramatic" disappearance of the bird from many of Britain's towns and cities is a sure indication of a troubled ecosystem.

Launching its "Save the Sparrow" campaign, the paper offers £5,000 to anyone who can account for the recent decline of the once common bird.

"It might at first seem inconsequential," the paper admits, "but remember the miner's canary."