The lead story in both the Times and Independent is Tony Blair's talk of a new "partnership" with Syria and Iran.

The Times says it marks the first cracks in the united front between Mr Blair and President Bush over Iraq.

The Independent's headline is "Our new friends in the Middle East", and points out how Iran and Syria were demonised to justify the invasion of Iraq.

The Financial Times says a rethink on Middle East policy as a whole is what is needed.

The Guardian says the White House is lobbying the UK government to allow the world's major drugs companies access to the National Health Service.

In the Daily Mail, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes warns parents who fail to read or sing nursery rhymes that they threaten their children's future.

Terror linkup

The Daily Telegraph says Tehran has been trying to form what it calls "an unholy alliance" with Al-Qaeda.

It says new leaders are being groomed to take over from Osama Bin Laden.

The Sun has the story of a group of former prisoners who won payouts from the government over the handling of their drug addictions while in jail.

It runs the story under the headline of "Hey, hey we're the junkies".

But the Independent welcomes the outcome, saying that "cold turkey" is notoriously likely to result in a relapse and a return to drug abuse.

It also says that evidence suggests giving criminals proper drug treatment would lead to lower reoffending rates.

Racehorse tributes

There are also plenty of tributes to Desert Orchid, one of the greatest names in National Hunt racing, who has died at the age of 27.

In the Telegraph, the three-times champion jockey Richard Dunwoody says "Dessie" was the finest horse he ever rode in his career.

To the Daily Express, Desert Orchid was "the embodiment of bravery and class".

The Daily Mirror fills its front page with a picture of the grey gelding with the headline of "Farewell, old lad".