World News: Violence erupts in Yemen as president refuses to go

Security forces and opposition tribal fighters battled with automatic weapons, mortars and tanks in the Yemeni capital, blasting buildings and setting government offices on fire.

The violence raised fears of an armed confrontation after the collapse of efforts to negotiate a peaceful exit for President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Yesterday's street fighting, in which six people were killed and nearly 40 wounded, was the heaviest clash between the pro- and anti-Saleh camps since Yemenis began taking to the streets three months ago to demand the president step down after 32 years in power.

It erupted amid increased tensions after Saleh refused at the last minute on Sunday to sign a US-backed agreement, mediated by Yemen's powerful Gulf Arab neighbours, under which he would step down in 30 days.

Saleh had promised to sign the deal, but instead sent mobs of armed supporters into the street in an orchestrated campaign to demand he stay in power.

The US expressed growing frustration with Saleh, an ally that Washington has relied upon to fight al-Qaida's Yemeni branch.Lenin's Jewish links proved

For the first time, Russians can now see documents that appear to confirm Vladimir Lenin had Jewish heritage.

The State History Museum is displaying a letter written by Lenin's eldest sister saying that their maternal grandfather was a Ukrainian Jew who converted to Christianity.

End of world date wrong

California preacher Harold Camping said today his prophecy that the world would end was off by five months because Judgment Day will actually come on October 21.

Mr Camping, who predicted that 200 million Christians would be taken to heaven on Saturday before the Earth was destroyed, said he felt so terrible when his doomsday prediction did not come true that he left home and took refuge in a motel with his wife.

Police held over gang bribes

Prosecutors in Mexico say they have detained 16 policemen who allegedly took bribes to protect members of a drug gang who carried specially marked cards to avoid detention.

Authorities said some of the officers from a town near Mexico City were paid to warn members of the gang about impending raids.

Greece to sell state assets

Greece will "immediately" start selling state assets in several major enterprises and take more than six billion euros in additional measures this year to tackle its debt crisis, the finance minister said after a seven-hour emergency cabinet meeting chaired by Prime minister George Papandreou.

Nato bombs rain down on Tripoli

Nato warplanes bombarded targets in Tripoli with more than 20 air strikes around Muammar Gaddafi's residential compound early today.

It appeared to be the heaviest night of bombing in the Libyan capital since the Western alliance launched its air campaign against his forces.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said at least three people were killed and dozens wounded in the strikes.