Mixed reaction to Iraq pull-out

Divisions over the decision to take part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 remain after the announcement that UK troops will leave by July next year.

Let no one be in any doubt, the Sun argues, Britain is leaving with its head held very high.

The Daily Telegraph says troops have had to cope with gross mismanagement of the occupation by political masters and a hornets' nest of inter-Shia rivalry.

The Daily Star believes it is a time to salute our troops.

Worse off

The Times takes issue with Gordon Brown for attempting to present the timetable for the pull-out in Iraq as a triumph.

In no way, it concludes, is this mission accomplished.

The Independent is also sceptical - saying the campaign has achieved almost nothing from an unnecessary and unwinnable guerilla war.

The Daily Mail says Britain will leave at a time when the Iraqi people are immeasurably worse off than under Saddam Hussein's tyranny.

Jobless figures

The Times illustrates the big rise in unemployment with a front page picture of people queuing outside a job centre.

The Sun says the latest jobless figures were published on what it called the darkest day of the credit crunch.

The Daily Express offers a bleak assessment, saying the scourge of unemployment is now hitting those with exemplary working records.

The Daily Mirror says experts believe unemployment will soar to three million in 18 months' time.

Difficult role

As Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg celebrates his first year in the job the Independent offers an assessment.

Overall, it says, he has made his mark and laid a promising foundation.

Mr Clegg, argues the Guardian, was sold as an innovative communicator, but he has turned out to be better at generating ideas than explaining them.

The difficult part will be to explain his message to an electorate, and a media, that finds third-party politics a bore, the paper adds.