Al-Yamamah pressure.

Pressure is beginning to mount on the government over the al-Yamamah scandal which is threatening to destroy British jobs and severely damage the UK defence industry.

The Scotsman reports that the UK's major defence firms are getting restless about the loss of billions of pounds' worth business and thousands of jobs.

According to Preston Today, the area's MPs, whose constituencies would be affected by job losses, are raising the issue with government.

And the Daily Telegraph reports that the French government is intensifying its efforts to win the contract if the Saudis withdraw from the UK deal.

President Chirac, who was photographed meeting Saudi officials in Paris last month, is thought to have brought forward a trip to Saudi Arabia to later this month, according to industry sources.

Tags: Al-Yamamah