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'Let Diana rest in peace'
15/12/2006 08:33 - (SA)
London - Following the publication of a long-awaited report into the death of Princess Diana in a 1997 car crash, the British press on Friday hoped it had provided enough information to quieten relentless conspiracy theorists.
The report, which concluded Diana's death was a "tragic accident", dismissed theories that it was a murder plot by British intelligence.
It was immediately condemned by Mohammed Al-Fayed, the father of Diana's boyfriend Dodi, who also died in the crash, who described it as a "cover up" and renewed his accusations that the British establishment organised it to prevent Diana marrying a Muslim.
Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed, however, bore the wrath of the editorial pages of British newspapers for his relentless campaigning.
The Sun tabloid, Britain's best-read daily, wrote in its "The Sun Says" editorial page: "Princess Diana's death in Paris was a catastrophic waste of a young life."
"But she was NOT pregnant. She was NOT engaged. She was NOT assassinated by MI6 (Britain's foreign secret service) - or anyone else."
"For the sake of her loving sons it is paramount that everyone, including Mr Fayed, lets Diana rest in peace."
The Daily Mirror tabloid voiced similar, if less forgiving, sentiments in its editorial page, when it wrote that the "conspiracy theorists who claim she was assassinated by secret service agents, or that aliens in a space ship were responsible should in future keep their mad ramblings to themselves."
The editorial pages of The Guardian echoed those views, declaring that "reading between the lines - and even on the face of parts of the report - it is clear that the findings are totally devastating to any remaining credibility claimed by Mr Al-Fayed".
The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, said that Al-Fayed's "understandable grief over the loss of his son should not be permitted to generate endless malign suspicion."
The Times was less harsh on Al-Fayed, but carried on along the same theme: "This is not, sadly, likely to be the last word on this subject. Conspiracy theorists will always find a new angle or avenue."
The Independent, however, stood out, for supporting a sceptical attitude toward the report, and the death in general, noting that it "can be a healthy instinct".
Despite the views of the majority of the British press, however, one newspaper refused to accept the report's findings and declared it a "whitewash".
The Daily Express, famous for its so-called "Diana Monday" headlines - the newspaper has published conspiracy theories on the princess's death every Monday, practically making it a tradition - said on its front page that it would not stop asking the "key questions".
- AFP
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