Newspaper review: Focus on possible Libya action

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UK preparations for possible military action in Libya are examined in Saturday's papers.

A pilot sat in the cockpit of an RAF Tornado stares out from the front pages of the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/" >Daily Telegraph</a> and <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/?CMP=KNGvccp1-the%2520times" >Times</a>.

In <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3478477/Cause-is-right-and-were-not-afraid-to-lead.html" >the Sun Defence Secretary Liam Fox writes:</a> "We will not be afraid to lead when we believe the cause is right."

In the <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/" >Times, Tony Blair says action will be difficult</a> but is preferable to seeing Libyans' hopes for change "snuffed out by tanks and planes".

Despite the ceasefire announced by Col Gaddafi's regime, reports suggests his forces have not halted their campaign.

"Gaddafi called a ceasefire. But still the bombs fell," declares the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/" >Independent's front page headline</a>.

At least 25 people, including children, were killed by bombing of the rebel-held western city of Misrata, said doctors <a href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/235452" >quoted in the Daily Express.</a>

<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8392091/Libya-Col-Gaddafi-told-to-leave-now-or-face-the-bombers.html" >Meanwhile, a man in Tripoli tells the Telegraph</a>: "It's time. We are willing to give our blood for this but we cannot do it alone."

Cancer fears

Workers tackling the nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima plant are being exposed to 10 times the annual radiation limit, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367684/Nuclear-plant-chief-weeps-Japanese-finally-admit-radiation-leak-kill-people.html" >says the Daily Mail</a>.

They "face a terrible risk of cancer later in life", in the view of a UK scientist quoted by the paper.

A picture of the boss of the plant weeping after a press conference on Friday appears in several papers.

The <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/03/18/japan-earthquake-and-tsunami-nuke-cloud-drifts-over-us-to-europe-115875-22999770/" >Daily Mirror reports predictions that radiation particles could reach the UK</a> - although at harmless levels.

Australian immigration

The <a href="http://www.ft.com/home/uk" >Financial Times suggests plans have been dropped from next week's Budget </a> to relax Sunday trading laws.

Fearing a backlash from Christian groups and small shopkeepers, ministers decided the move was "politically too risky", according to the FT.

The <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/riots-hit-australias-hated-asylum-island-2246331.html" >Independent highlights problems at Australia's immigration detention centres</a> , including one facing a fifth night of riots and unrest elsewhere.

The "reviled" system reportedly "appeared on the brink of breakdown".