Press hostile over Burrell's story

It is day two of The Daily Mirror's interview with Paul Burrell with a further "bombshell" presented.

But in the rest of the papers, there is widespread condemnation for the former butler of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the stories he is now telling.

Mr Burrell claims the Spencers callously cashed in on her memory.

In turn he takes aim at her mother, brother and sister.

The Daily Mirror also claims that Prince William, far from being angry with Paul Burrell, has privately offered him his support.

'Miserable days'

The paper quotes royal sources who dismiss suggestions that the prince had labelled the former butler "Paul the Betrayer".

Other papers are united in their condemnation of the former butler.

Dealing with Wednesday's revelations about Mr Burrell's meeting with the Queen, The Daily Telegraph suggests that he is living in a fantasy land, and says it is time he cleared out the mad memories in the attic.

The Sun says the whole matter has become tawdry.

The Daily Mail says these are miserable days for Buckingham Palace.

The Independent distinguishes itself by offering no coverage of the comments in its news pages.

But a column by the comedian, Mark Steel, pokes fun at what Mr Burrell has to say, likening some of the language to a Mafia film.

United

The convincing showing of the Republican party in America's congressional elections has given President Bush what The Times calls a mandate for war with Iraq.

The paper says the president now has his hands on all the levers of power in Washington, and has strengthened his hopes of re-election in 2004.

The Financial Times says George W Bush has been triumphant on all fronts, with control of Congress secured.

The Daily Telegraph says the America that emerges from these elections is more united than at any time since the height of the Cold War.

The Guardian says that Mr Bush's presidency, which has faced so many challenges of legitimacy, has now won a political lock on Congress that few Republican leaders have ever enjoyed.

But The Independent sounds a warning note. It says the victory will embolden Mr Bush as he pushes for war against Iraq.

No patience

The paper says the incalculable damage that such a conflict would do to peace throughout the world represents the real price of the Democrats' failure.

The decision of a GP to turn asylum seekers away from his surgery in Birmingham is described as an act of desperation in The Sun.

The doctor, Vijayaker Abrol, writing in the Daily Mail says more than 300 refugees have turned up at his offices demanding treatment in recent weeks, and his patience and goodwill have finally run out.

Dr Abrok says he was forced to put a sign on the window of his surgery, saying that no asylum seekers would be treated until the local authority provided him with more resources.

The Sun says Dr Abrol's regular patients were suffering as a result of his practice being swamped with refugees.

The downfall of the Hollywood actress Winona Ryder - found guilty of shoplifting - is recounted in great detail in both the tabloids and broadsheets.

Turbot's reprieve

The Daily Telegraph says her image as an innocent, big hearted character, is likely to be hampered.

The Daily Express goes further, saying her conviction has left her career in tatters.

The Times says the decision is a triumph for prosecutors, who it says are determined to end their reputation of being soft on celebrities.

The Guardian notes that the verdict pushed the mid-term elections results off the top of American news bulletins.

The amazing escape of a turbot called Herbert is recounted in several papers.

The Daily Mail says the fish was caught by an angler and placed overnight in his refrigerator.

Fifteen hours later, feeling hungry, Mike Reeves decided to grill the fish, but to his surprise found him still flapping inside a plastic bag on the shelf.

Mr Reeves decided that eating the turbot, after all it had been through, would not be right, and he has now found him a new home at an aquarium in Portsmouth.

Fin-destructible is how The Sun puts it.