The politicians involved in the pre-coalition talks are still refusing to speak to the press so the daily papers have been forced to speculate on what's going on at the secret negotiations. As there is no real news on the issue that is of vital importance to the country, the papers are a collage of old items that have been dusted off and given a new headline, human interest and dead animals stories, football news and a few things that are just plain daft.

Lubbers wants decision on coalition by Saturday ADs headline could be dismissed as wishful thinking: "Agreement on right-wing cabinet very close," is splashed across the front page in large letters. "It's decision time for the leaders of the VVD, PVV and CDA," says the populist paper, adding that negotiation leader Ruud Lubbers "wants a decision by Saturday".

Most of the rest of the article is based on hearsay, supposition and tip-offs from "insiders in The Hague".

De Telegraaf crams its front page with seven stories but the one with the biggest headline is billed as "exclusive" and is it written in a hysterical, breathless tone: "Lubbers had a heart attack," pants the paper, adding, "Close friends deeply concerned about health of former prime minister."

The front-page article makes it sound as though Mr Lubbers is at death's door and questions whether he is physically and mentally capable of taking on such a complicated, stressful task. Mr Lubbers swots the assertions aside: "Of course I can take this weighty task on," he growls.

Taliban wants Labour in new coalition De Volkskrant also lays claim to an exclusive: the paper interviews Qari Yusuf Ahmadsii, the official Taliban spokesperson for southern and western Afghanistan, as part of its series on the Netherlands' upcoming withdrawal from the Central Asian country.

Dutch forces come home on 1 August and Mr Ahmadsii tells the paper, "We would like to heartily congratulate the citizens and the government of the Netherlands for having the courage to take this independent decision."

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