The BBC's coverage of the war in Iraq has provoked comment from today's press.

The Guardian begins its editorial by saying: "At times of war the Daily Telegraph comes over all proprietorial, exuding a slight air of offence at the presumption of other media organisations in wishing to play a role."

It then launches a strong defence of the conduct and reporting of BBC staff in the Iraqi capital.

"The truth is that the BBC offends all the Telegraph's free market fundamentalism, which is why the paper never misses an opportunity to put the boot in. There is something rather petty and peculiarly graceless about doing it at this time, and in such a fashion."

On Saturday, the Telegraph had accused the corporation of having "a terrible war," and said that the mood among licence payers was "mutinous".

In its editorial today, the paper criticises CNN reporter Brent Sadler after his "security advisers" returned fire from Iraqi forces.

"Journalists, like stretcher bearers and army padres, do not engage with the enemy," it concludes.