Mixed reaction to double act

The Rose Garden at the White House has witnessed many historic occasions over the years.

But Friday's news conference by Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George W Bush failed to convince some of their strongest critics here.

The Independent adopts a cynical tone, criticising what it calls the rosy view from the Rose Garden.

The prime minister and the president, argues the paper, offered fine words but a vision far removed from reality.

The Daily Mirror describes it as a double act worthy of an end-of-the-pier show.

And its verdict is just as damning - "fine words won't bring Iraq peace".

The Daily Mail says the two men papered over their growing differences to present a united front.

The Financial Times predicts Mr Blair's critics will continue to deride him as the president's poodle if he refuses to discuss the widening policy gap publicly.

Transition of power

For its part, the Sun applauds the two leaders, arguing there can be no going back on the promise to get the job in Iraq done.

And it is now clear the United Nations will play a key role in the transition of power to the Iraqi people.

The Daily Express welcomes the development, calling it the best step forward for the country.

However, the Times reckons the president had little option other than to embrace the UN and shelve his own plans to hand over power on 30 June.

The Guardian concludes Mr Bush and Mr Blair need the UN to give them credibility and help in Iraq.

For the Independent the policy shift is an important about face by the US.

There is no doubt, says the Daily Telegraph, that the pendulum of power in Washington has swung back to the realists or doves.

The growing number of kidnappings in Iraq does not appear to have deterred some of the foreign workers in the country.

One man tells the Telegraph he is having the time of his life, while another says "it's like the old Wild West, only I'm part of it".

More powerful weapons

The dangers of working in Iraq are highlighted in the Guardian.

The paper reports that private military companies guarding contractors are calling for the right to carry more powerful weapons after the death of a number of bodyguards in battles with Iraqi fighters.

There is a different slant on the upsurge in violence from the Times's correspondent in Fallujah.

He describes how members of the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps are demoralised, suspicious of their allies and how many of them want to go home.

Reckless drivers

The Sun is launching a campaign for tougher sentences for drivers who kill people.

It believes careless and reckless drivers should be charged with manslaughter.

The paper urges its readers to sign a petition calling on the Home Secretary David Blunkett to impose firmer laws.

For more than 100 years, Marmite has tickled the nation's taste buds at breakfast and other mealtimes.

During both world wars, the yeast extract was given to soldiers to keep them healthy.

Now, according to the Mirror, it could stop mosquitoes biting you on holiday.

Apparently, when we eat the spread our skin gives off an odour undectable to humans but repulsive to mosquitoes.