Two very differing Afghan tales

Afghanistan takes up a lot of space in the newspapers, with coverage of two very different tales - a UK soldier's death, and a controversial election.

The first, that of British Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, sees him lauded as a "legend" in the Mirror .

It points out the bomb disposal expert had saved 'countless lives' before he died in defusing 64 Taliban bombs.

The Independent praises his "prolific" work and reflects that he died on the last working day of his tour of duty.

'No mandate'

But the Independent has few good words to say about Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, describing his government as "discredited".

The Financial Times offers a wider view of the regions's problems, concluding that "the war... is going badly".

In a Times cartoon Lord Mandelson is seen listening to Gordon Brown discussing President Karzai .

"He assumes office unopposed, has no mandate, and surrounds himself with cronies! Sounds fine to me," the PM is saying.

Madeleine video

Meanwhile the Daily Telegraph reports on suggestions that David Cameron is to abandon his pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

The reason, says the paper, is that "once a Treaty is in force it binds all states" and its editorial pours scorn on both Labour and the Tories.

New images of how experts think Madeleine McCann may now look stare from many of the front pages.

They have been released as part of a new internet campaign to locate her.

Small and round

A makeover for London's Oxford Circus has sparked interest, with shoppers now able to cross the road diagonally.

The renovation is likened to "a giant chessboard" by The Daily Mail, while the Guardian calls it "a welcome step forward for the rights of walkers".

Wayne Rooney becoming the father of a baby boy, named Kai, prompts musings about the child's football career.

The Sun cannot resist a chant: "He's small... he's round.... he weighs about eight pounds...Kai Rooney".