Thai coup takes up headlines

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The military coup in Thailand is the main story for many of the papers - or One Night in Bangkok as the headline in the Independent puts it.

The Times says it was a lightning coup while the Daily Telegraph describes it as a classic coup.

The Guardian leaves readers in no doubt it was not the first in what it calls a notoriously coup-prone country.

The Daily Mirror notes the army's apologetic tone with the quote: "We ask your pardon for the inconvenience."

'Straight talking'

Hungarian prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsany is not apologising after he lied to win a second term in office.

The Guardian quotes him as saying he spent three minutes thinking about whether to resign, and decided not to. 

The Independent finds a certain primitive charm to what it calls his diatribe, describing it as naive politics and in the raw. 

Are there not times when we would welcome some of the same straight talking here, the paper asks?

Taxing plans

At the Liberal Democrat conference some delegates argued against the leadership's proposal to scrap its commitment to a 50% top rate of tax. 

The Telegraph says the party's leader Sir Menzies Campbell survived the first major test of his authority. 

The Independent notes there was a rare example of a party exchanging ideas openly on thorny political issues. 

The Guardian warns the package that replaces the 50p top rate may struggle to survive an election campaign.

Supermarket fuel

The Telegraph and the Daily Express report that motorists are saving money with a new fuel "price war" under way. 

The Telegraph says Asda fired the first shots, with other supermarket chains expected to follow. 

While drivers celebrate, the Express says food is costing more because of higher energy and labour costs. 

The paper reports that there have been big increases in the cost of goods such as eggs, bacon, bread, butter, sausages and tea.