Malta and international press digest

The following are the leading stories in Maltese and foreign newspapers.

The Sunday Times leads with the news that with just six days to go till the general election, a record 14,000 documents remain unclaimed - the largest numbering the 10^th and 12^th districts, incorporating areas like Sliema and St Paul's Bay, traditionally Nationalist strongholds.

In another story, Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion and MP Karmenu Vella denied accusations, made by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, of making false declarations over income from rented property. They said they had declared and paid all tax that was due.

The Malta Independent on Sunday reports that the two main political parties "are battling it out by hurling scandal allegations at each other". Labour attacked Dr Pullicino Orlando over an application for a discotheque in Mistra and, in turn, Dr Olando alleged that Dr Mangion and Mr Vella did not register income derived from lease of property in the declaration made to the MFSA.

Maltatoday claims the PN is ahead in the polls (38.5 per cent against 33.1 per cent) but the MLP managed to gain eight per cent of the PN voters.

il-mument leads with the allegation of income tax fraud by Dr Mangion and Mr Vella. It also features a picture of the Mellieha Old People's Home inaugurated last night by the prime minister.

Illum says that Labour "left the best for last" in the electoral campaign and claims that the PN had to change its strategy and organize two news conferences to rebut Dr Sant's revelation of a document on the financing of the health services. It.

it-torca also refers to the Labour announcement of a development application on land owned by Dr Pullicino Orlando at Mistra. In a second lead, the paper claims that theMinistry of Finance has approved a direct order of €1.1 m for works at the Hal Far Open Centre housing irregular immigrants.

KullHadd dedicates the whole of its front page to the Mistra application controversy.

The Press in Britain...

The Mail on Sunday's front page is dominated by Prince Harry's early return from Afghanistan, where he's been fighting the Taliban, after news of his deployment got out. The paper, which dedicates an eight-page supplement containing special reports and pictures, says his girlfriend Chelsy Davy flew 200 miles to see him after their 10-week separation.

The Observer says Harry, speaking at a press conference shortly after his plane landed, was full of praise for the courage shown by his comrades in Helmand province, where the war against the Taliban is being waged.

The Sunday Times reports Harry insisted he was no braver than any other British soldier.

The Independent on Sunday says that never has a young man looked as happy as Prince Harry did shooting away at suspected Taliban positions.

"Harry's home and Chelsea's waiting" screams the Sunday Express but leads with revealtions that MPs are set to hand themselves a new £160-a-day allowance just for turning up to work.

Daily Star Sunday prints a picture of the prince being greeted by his father and brother. Prince Charles spokes of his "enormous pride" and said it is a "great relief... to see him home in one piece". He said he now understands what troops' families endure, and added he is not only proud of his son but of "all the dedicated service" UK soldiers give.

The News of the World unveils a Tories plan to slap big tax rises on alcopops in a blitz against young binge drinkers.

The People says bus stop killer Levi Bellfield confessed to kidnapping 13-year-old Milly Dowler a month before she was found murdered.

The Sunday Mirror says Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted he will not hold a General Election until 2010.

The Sunday Telegraph claims the biggest gas and electricity companies are being ordered by the Government to hand over part of their multibillion-pound profits.

The Observer prints research results which shows faith schools are failing to take children from the poorest backgrounds nationwide.

Sunday Mail says a 35-year-old Albanian, suspected of torching a plane at Glasgow Airport, has been flown to Scotland by anti-terror police to face charges over an arson attack on Glasgow Airport.

And elsewhere...

Kurier reports a powerful storm passing through central Europe has killed at least eight people, including two in Germany and six in Austria. The storm, dubbed "Emma" has been lashing parts of Germany with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. In the UK, a pensioner was crushed by a falling tree as gale force winds caused widespread damage across a swathe of northern and eastern England. Air traffic has been disrupted and felled trees have blocked a number of motorways and railway tracks. Damage caused runs to millions of euros.

Al-Nahar says Palestinians have threatened to call off planned peace talks with Israel after 60 Palestinians were killed and dozens others wounded in Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip. The death toll climbed as Israeli troops, backed by tanks and aircraft, went after Palestinian militants who fired 50 rockets into southern Israel. Many civilians are said to be among the dead. The Israeli army said two of its soldiers were killed and seven others wounded in the fighting.

Moscow Times says Russians have begun voting for a new president, with no significant opposition to Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin's chosen successor. Mr Medvedev has said that if he wins the poll he will ask Mr Putin to become prime minister - an offer the incumbent is likely to accept. Critics denounced the poll after the only liberal candidate, ex-PM Mikhail Kasyanov, was taken off the ballot.

Yerkir leads with Armnian President Kocharyan's imposition of a state of emergency following a day of violence between police and protesters. The move came after police fired tear gas to break up a demo of 15,000 people protesting against alleged fraud in recent presidential elections. The opposition say last month's elections, which were won by allies of the president, were neither free nor fair. But observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe found that the vote largely met international standards.

Al Ahali quotes President Jalal Talabani of Iraq praising Turkey for ending its incursion against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. Talabani also said he was looking forward to accepting an invitation to visit Ankara to discuss closer ties and ways of fighting terrorism.

Teheran Times gives prominence to President Ahmadinejad's landmark visit to Baghdad later today as part of efforts by Tehran to establish security in the warn-torn country and improve bilateral ties. Ahmadinejad has said that talks between his country and the United Sates have helped improve security in Iraq but rejected claims that the Islamic Republic is fuelling violence in its western neighbour.

USA Today reports Hillary and Bill Clinton's two-pronged campaign blitz in the two big states Mrs Clinton needs to win to keep her Democratic presidential campaign afloat. Ohio and Texas hold pivotal primaries on Tuesday, along with the smaller states of Vermont and Rhode Island. A total of 370 nominating convention delegates are at stake in the four states. Her rival Barack Obama's string of 11 victories since the February 5 "Super Tuesday" contests has raised questions about the viability of Mrs Clinton's candidacy.