The Labour party is in "open revolt over Iraq", according to the Times.

The paper is referring to the results of its survey of Labour constituency chairmen in the party's 100 most marginal seats.

Of the 70 chairmen prepared to share their views, only five said unequivocally that they would support military action while 60 expressed strong opposition.

The chairman of the Watford Labour party, Mike Jackson, said he considered himself to be a party loyalist, but he explained that he opposed a war and - along with other members - intended to use the party conference as a mechanism to let his views be known.

The Guardian also cites problems for Tony Blair, claiming there are fears in Downing Street about the prime minister's ability to exert any influence at all on America's policy towards Saddam Hussein.

Speeches by the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, and America's defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, have left Mr Blair looking foolish, according to the paper.

Prescott queries

It argues that while Mr Blair tries to formulate an effective policy on Iraq, he must realise that when he holds a scheduled news conference next week he will have to say more than "wait and see".

The Sun seems more sure of the prime minister's stance on Iraq.

It tells its readers that Mr Blair is convinced that Britain and the United States should press the United Nations for permission to launch military strikes.

The Daily Mirror concerns itself with the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, asking "what is he up to?"

It remarks that "a blanket of secrecy" has been thrown over Mr Prescott's meetings at the world development summit in Johannesburg.

The Independent reassures us that Mr Prescott is taking the talks seriously - it carries a picture of him on its front page along with his statement that if the summit failed it would be "tragic for the whole world".

'Gridlocked Britain'

But those comments fail to convince the Daily Telegraph, which asks Mr Prescott: "Where are you when we need you?"

The paper remarks that it is a pity he is busy saving the world when he is needed at home to deal with transport problems.

The Telegraph is referring to news that road traffic has increased and 40 miles of the West Coast railway line is to be taken out of use for four months to allow an extensive upgrade of the route to be completed.

The Daily Mail is also upset about the state of British transport. It is apparently a disaster "worse than the Dome".

The Guardian illustrates its disappointment by publishing a large map of what it terms "Gridlocked Britain".

Carnivorous woman

But the Daily Express is more relaxed. It argues that although it is tempting to "explode in fury" at the inevitable delays for rail passengers, the West Coast line is in urgent need of upgrading.

Better a relatively short period of disruption, claims the Express, than allowing the work to drag on for years.

Finally, the Times reveals that a Stone Age Woman was not one to eat greens - or even fish.

Chemical analysis of an 8,000-year-old thigh bone unearthed in Nottinghamshire concludes that the woman was almost exclusively carnivorous and ate almost as much meat as a wolf or a lion.