World News: Chechen rebel leader claims responsibility for bombing

A website affiliated with Chechen rebels has released a video in which insurgent leader Doku Umarov claims responsibility for last month's deadly suicide bombing at Russia's largest airport and threatens more bloodshed if Russia does not leave the region.

The Kavkaz Centre website received the video late yesterday. It was not clear when or where the video was recorded.

The January 24 attack at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport killed 36 people.

Russian investigators said the bomber was a 20-year-old man from the Caucasus region that includes Chechnya, but have not released his name or other details.

"You see this special operation carried out by my order . . . more special operations will be carried out in the future," Umarov says in the video, wearing a camouflage uniform and a skullcap.

"Among us there are hundreds of brothers who are prepared to sacrifice themselves" in further attacks, Umarov says in the video.

"We can at any time carry out operations where we want," he added.

Chechen rebels have fought two full-scale wars against Russian forces since 1994.

Haiti premier's term extended

Haitian president Rene Preval will stay in office for three more months.

Chief of staff Fritz Longchamp confirmed Mr Preval's exit date of May 14. His term had been scheduled to end yesterday, but his successor will not be elected until a presidential run-off on March 20.

US-Pakistan talks at risk

The United States may scrap upcoming talks with Pakistan about the war in Afghanistan to further pressure Islamabad to free an American who shot dead two Pakistanis, US officials said.

Washington insists the detained American has diplomatic immunity and killed the Pakistanis in self-defence as they tried to rob him at gunpoint. It says the man's detention is illegal under international agreements covering diplomatic ties.

Escaped bison face slaughter

The US interior department is asking a federal judge in Montana not to intervene in the impending slaughter of potentially hundreds of wild bison that were captured after migrating out of Yellowstone National Park.

Almost 400 bison are being held in corrals along the park's northern border.

A performer wears a mandarin orange tree costume before a dragon dance in Shanghai as part of continued celebrations for Chinese New Year. Jacko trial set to be televised

A US judge has said he will approve TV coverage of the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, if the camera is unobtrusive.

Dr Conrad Murray has pleaded not guilty to the death of the pop superstar from an overdose of drugs.

Protesters in fresh call to oust president

Egypt: Protesters in Cairo's central Tahrir Square have called for a new push to oust Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, two weeks into their campaign.

Thousands of people still occupy the square, but their lines have been gradually pushed back by the army.

Indonesia: Police said a speeding bus has crashed into a ravine on the main island of Java, killing 11 passengers and injuring 37 others.