World News: US government urges church leader to halt Koran protest

The US government has turned up the pressure on the head of a small church who plans to burn copies of the Koran on September 11, warning him that doing so could endanger US troops and Americans everywhere.

But the Reverend Terry Jones insisted he would go ahead with his plans, despite criticism from the top US general in Afghanistan, the White House and the State Department, as well as a host of religious leaders.

Mr Jones, who is known for posting signs proclaiming that Islam is the devil's religion, said the US Constitution gives him the right to publicly set fire to the book that Muslims consider the word of God.

General David Petraeus warned that "images of the burning of a Koran would undoubtedly be used by extremists in Afghanistan - and around the world - to inflame public opinion and incite violence". It was a rare example of a military commander taking a position on a domestic political matter.

Mr Jones refused to cancel the protest set for Saturday at his Dove World Outreach Centre in Florida, a church that espouses an anti-Islam philosophy.

Asteroids set for double fly-by

Nasa said two small asteroids discovered just days ago will zip harmlessly past Earth today, a double fly-by that should be visible through a telescope.

The asteroids were found by the Nasa-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona.

Body parts are found in shark

Bahamian police said they were trying to identify human remains found in the stomach of a tiger shark caught off the Exuma islands.

Forensic investigators were conducting DNA tests on the two legs, two arms and severed torso found inside the 12-foot shark.

Parliament bid opposed

Sri Lanka's parliament started debating a controversial government proposal that would enable the president to seek an unlimited number of terms.

The main opposition United National Party boycotted today's debate, saying the amendment would lead to a dictatorship.

But the government is most likely to secure the two-thirds majority required in the 225-member parliament to make it law.

Gibson deputy sues police

THE sheriff's deputy who arrested Mel Gibson for drink-driving in 2006, is suing his department, claiming he has been ostracised by colleagues since the incident.

James Mee claims the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has discriminated against him.

18 workers shot dead in shoe factory

Honduras: Men armed with assault rifles burst into a shoe factory and opened fire, killing at least 18 workers and wounding five, police said.

National police spokesman Leonel Sauceda called the attack in the San Pedro Sula "a massacre".

Mexico: Two dead bodies found in the state of Tamaulipas appear to be those of a state detective and local police chief who investigated the massacre of 72 migrants in August.