World news: Ex-Haiti dictator says he's back to help nation rebuild

Former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier told Haitians he had returned after 25 years in exile to participate in the post-earthquake reconstruction of his homeland and was ready to face "persecution" for alleged crimes during his administration.

In his first public comments since his shock return to Haiti on Sunday, the ousted strongman known as "Baby Doc" spoke in a faint voice and did not take questions, leaving that to three American consultants, including former US congressman and presidential candidate Bob Barr and one of his Haitian lawyers.

He said the return was timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the earthquake.

"When I made the decision to come back to Haiti to commemorate this sad anniversary with you, in our country, I was ready for any kind of persecution," Duvalier said.

"But I believe that the desire to participate by your side in this collaboration for the national reconstruction far outweighs any harassment I could face."

The 59-year-old former leader ruled Haiti from 1971 to 1986 through terror and the regime he inherited from his father.

Crowds gather to cheer Giffords

Crowds cheered Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as she left a Tucson hospital where she stunned doctors with her recovery two weeks after being shot in the head in an assassination bid.

The 40-year-old Democrat was bound for Houston for rehabilitation yesterday.

Torture cop is sent to prison

A decorated former top Chicago policeman was jailed for four and a half years for lying about the torture of suspects.

Dozens of suspects - almost all black men - had claimed for decades that Jon Burge, 63, and his officers electrically shocked, suffocated and beat them into confessing.

UN slams vehicle search

The United Nations reacted with fury after Ivory Coast's incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo ordered the military to stop and search the world body's vehicles.

At UN's HQ in New York, spokesman Martin Nesirky said the move "is a serious violation of the Status of Forces Agreement and Security Council Resolution 1962".

It is the latest escalation of hostilities between the man and the global body that declared his rival the recent election winner.

US returns stolen Degas work

The US has returned an Edgar Degas painting stolen 37 years ago to French authorities.

The painting was handed over to the acting French ambassador to the US, Francois Rivasseau, yesterday.

It was rediscovered recently before it was due to be auctioned in New York City.Tunisia PM vows to quit after election

Tunisia: The prime minister has pledged to quit politics after elections he says will be held as soon as possible, amid protests by citizens still angry at officials linked to their deposed president's regime.

Mohamed Ghannouchi said he would leave power after a transition phase.

Albania: Three people have been killed in the capital Tirana during clashes between police and protesters against the conservative government.