Iraq inquiry first week assessed in Saturday newspapers

At the end of the first week of the Iraq War inquiry, several papers take stock of what has emerged so far.

The Guardian says it is already clear Britain was "dancing to American drums" and the decisions that led to war "were the product of systemic failure".

The Daily Mail says it is "beyond doubt that Tony Blair lied to involve Britain in the disastrous Iraq war".

Claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction were "ludicrously exaggerated", the Daily Express adds.

'Billion-dollar sportsman'

Many papers have pictures of golfer Tiger Woods on their front pages after he was injured in a car crash.

TheDaily Mirror calls the incident - outside the player's Florida home on Friday - "bizarre".

TheSun also uses the B-word, claiming Woods "rarely drives and is usually chauffeured everywhere".

The Times says the star, "who this year became the world's first billion-dollar sportsman", suffered cuts to his face, but has been released from hospital.

Dubai goodbye?

There are more worries over the state of Dubai's finances, with the Daily Mirror warning its "get rich mirage" is "sinking into the Arabian Gulf".

The Financial Times says there are fears that markets in the Gulf will be "hammered" when they re-open on Monday.

And the Times says city high flyers might have to re-think accepted wisdom about career-boosting places to work.

The saying "It's Mumbai, Shanghai, Dubai or goodbye" may no longer apply, the paper comments.

'Hollow' greeting

The Daily Mail reports that a "vicious" price war has led to one billion pounds of reductions for Christmas shoppers.

Stores have started their sales early to try to get tills "jingling", meaning there are "bargains galore".

But "wishing people a 'Happy Christmas' could be seen as an insult or even an obscenity", the Daily Telegraph warns.

It quotes the Bishop of Repton who says it is a "hollow" greeting to make to those who have lost someone in Afghanistan or are victims of bullying.

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