Eye on a crisis: Middle East 'ceasefire' boosts fight on terrorism

In our round-up of newspaper coverage of the crisis, the Jerusalem Post reports on a momentous day for the Middle East peace process, which is seen as a boost for America's attempts to build a coalition against terrorism.

The paper said Israel had ordered its Army to cease all "offensive operations" against the Palestinians in response to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's call for a ceasefire. But it also quoted Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as describing Arafat as an unreconstructed terrorist and "Israel's bin Laden".

The Gulf Daily News in Bahrain reported that the leaders of Bahrain and Oman had denounced the terrorist attacks on the US and "affirmed the importance of standing alongside the US and international community to punish all those who support and sponsor terrorism".

In the United States, the New York Times reported on a Government move to expand its power to detain immigrants suspected of crimes, including allowing legal immigrants to be detained indefinitely during a national emergency.

Previously, the Justice Department faced a 24-hour deadline on whether to release detained immigrants or charge them with a crime, or with violating the terms of their visa.

The Washington Post reported on the same story, saying the department was holding 75 immigrants for questioning.

In a column, staff writer Joel Achenbach advised readers and viewers to be sceptical as the media followed the complex, developing crisis, "one that's shot through with rumour and misinformation".

"Consumers of news should pay careful attention to the origin, the sourcing of information and then should have the patience to wait a day or two to see if the news holds up. In general, the news media have performed tirelessly, brilliantly even, during the past week. Even so there have been stumbles, some mistakes that snowballed into an avalanche of misinformation."

The Los Angeles Times reported that the Federal Aviation Administration was seeking plans for a "secure cockpit" from engineering design firms. But the paper said that unless the FAA was ready to mandate stiffer doors, door frames, hinges and locks, the industry might baulk at the cost, which one executive estimated at $US50,000 ($121,715) per aircraft.

The New York Post offered to readers a giant Wild West-style poster of chief suspect Osama bin Laden with President George W. Bush's words, "Wanted Dead or Alive".

The sudden ceasefire in the Middle East dominated British newspapers, summed up by the Sun's headline, "Would you believe it".

The Mirror had an interview with a mother of one of the hijackers, who said she was shocked to learn of her son's involvement.

The Scotsman featured a poll suggesting that Scots supported armed action against terrorists more than any other nationality in Europe. The 71 per cent backing exceeded the 66 per cent in a Britain-wide poll in the Guardian and was matched only by the 71 per cent in favour recorded in the latest polls in the US. It also said British Prime Minister Tony Blair's handling of the crisis was supported by 87 per cent of Scots.

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