Female Suicide Bomber Blamed For Russia Blast

Train Station Bombing 'Embarrassing' For Putin

Updated: 3:19pm UK, Sunday 29 December 2013

By Lisa Holland, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Russia is desperate to show itself as a world power and world powers seek to cover themselves in glory by staging successful, glamorous and above all secure international events.

But the Volgograd station bombing shows Russia as a country not in control of its own territory and that is acutely embarrassing for President Vladimir Putin.

It should be 'show time' in Russia next year.

The Winter Olympics are due to be held in the Russian Black sea resort of Sochi from the beginning of February and President Vladimir Putin wants it to be an event which showcases Russia.

The reality is a security nightmare and warlords such as the Chechen Doku Umarov - known as 'Russia's Bin Laden' - are threatening to wreck the party.

He has already called for new attacks against civilians and has pledged to 'endeavour to destroy the Olympic Games'.

He claimed responsibility for the metro and airport bombings in Moscow in 2010 and 2011 in which dozens were killed.

Mr Putin is unleashing a massive security operation to tackle Islamist militants. Suicide bombings and other attacks linked to Islamic rebels in the north Caucasus have rocked Russia for years.

The government has deployed tens of thousands of soldiers, police and other security personnel to protect the Olympics.  It is Mr Putin's pet project. He has promised it will be the 'safest Olympics in history'.

He has even pushed through new laws which threaten to punish the relatives of those who turn themselves into suicide bombers.

One of the hallmarks of high-profile bomb blasts in recent years linked to the North Caucasus is the use of female suicide bombers.

The 2010 metro attack, a bus bombing in Volgograd in October which killed 39 and this latest train station bombing all involved female suicide bombers.

Russia is very familiar with the use of so-called 'black widows' - often the widows or sisters of fighters from the North Caucasus killed by Russian security.

The new law is aimed at deterring them from joining the 'jihad' for fear of retribution for their surviving relatives.

Mr Putin has plans for a massive security zone around Sochi - stretching for 60 miles along the Black Sea coast and 30 miles inland.

Russian forces will patrol the mountains towering over the resort and use drones to keep constant watch over the Olympic facilities.

Cars from outside the security zone will be banned for a month before and after the games and there will be extensive security checks for visitors.

In another attempt to avoid controversy hanging over the event, President Putin recently staged an amnesty of political prisoners.

He does not want campaign groups using the event as a platform to air their human rights grievances.

High-profile prisoners such as two members of the feminist Russian punk band Pussy Riot were freed, along with the so-called 'Arctic 30' which included  28 activists and two journalists caught up in a protest to scale a Russian oil platform in the arctic sea.

He also freed jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky after 10 years in prison.

Though the amnesty has failed to silence critics who say thousands more remain in jail.

Mr Putin is doing all he can to prevent anyone raining on his Olympic parade.

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YouTube Videos Add To Missing Doctor Mystery

YouTube videos of a doctor who disappeared three weeks ago talking to an unidentified love interest are being examined by investigators searching for her.

Teleka Patrick, who was serving her residency in Michigan, was last seen on December 5.

After completing a shift, the 30-year-old tried unsuccessfully to rent a hotel room in Kalamazoo before being dropped off by the hotel shuttle driver in the car park of the medical centre where she worked, according to the FBI.

"The shuttle driver said she seemed nervous, even ducking down between vehicles, as if she was afraid of being seen by someone," Carl Clatterbuck, a private investigator hired by the family, said.

"I would say she was agitated, but if she was worried about something or someone, she never told anyone about it."

Later that night, Dr Patrick's car was found about 100 miles away, abandoned in a ditch in Indiana with a possible flat tyre, the FBI said.

Her belongings were in the car, including clothing, a wallet that contained her driver's licence, credit cards, and a small amount of cash.

The YouTube videos, which show Dr Patrick singing and speaking to the unidentified love interest, were uploaded in early November.

In one of them she addresses someone as "baby" and "love" while in the other she shows two plates of breakfast.

But her parents said their emergence created more confusion about the situation. 

"We are aware of the YouTube videos that have surfaced today. However, their relevance to her disappearance remains a mystery," they said.

"These videos have led to more questions than answers. To our knowledge, Teleka was not in a romantic relationship and it is unclear to whom she is making reference in the videos."

Dr Patrick has bought an airline ticket to Florida to visit her parents for Christmas and was supposed to join them on December 23.

Her disappearance is being investigated by police in two states as well as the FBI.

A Facebook page has been created in an attempt to help track her down.

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Meteor Mystery As Fireball Caught On CCTV

Hundreds of people have reported seeing a large fireball in the sky in America's Midwest - and it could have even been caught by a CCTV camera.

The American Meteor Society said it received more than 700 reports of a fireball over the border of Iowa and Minnesota.

It said witnesses reported an object "as bright as the sun that fragmented into many parts" as well as several reports of "sonic effects associated with the meteor".

A local official said the footage of the possible meteor was spotted on a camera at North Liberty's public works facility.

The tape shows a fiery object streaking across the night sky.

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Philippines Typhoon Dead Remain Unburied

More than 1,000 victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan have still not been buried, seven weeks after the deadliest storm to ever hit the Philippines, according to locals.

About 1,400 corpses sealed into black body bags have been left in an open field in San Isidro, a village on the outskirts of the devastated city of Tacloban.

"The stench has taken away our appetite. Even in our sleep, we have to wear face masks," Maritess Pedrosa, who lives in a house about 20 metres from the field, said.

Haiyan victims celebrate Christmas with an improvised tree

Haiyan killed 6,111 people as it battered the Philippines on November 8, while another 1,779 remain missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Tacloban and nearby towns were virtually destroyed by giant waves that swept inland as the storm hit.

Eutiquio Balunan, a local village chief, said people in San Isidro were becoming sick because of the rotting corpses.

Tacloban was devastated by huge waves generated by the typhoon

"We are requesting the city government to please bury the cadavers because our children and elderly residents are getting sick," he said.

"This place has become a fly factory."

Forensics experts at the site attemept to identify any bodies brought there before returning them to the families or placing them in a mass grave at a cemetery about two miles away.

Millions of people lost their homes to Haiyan

Eight police officers guard the bodies. One told the AFP news agency they were under orders to prevent stray dogs from eating the corpses.

About four million people remain homeless following the typhoon.

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Canada Ice Storm: Thousands Without Power

Thousands of households have been left without power in Toronto after a severe ice storm blanketed much of Canada.

Power companies have been working around the clock to restore electricity, moving from house to house and clearing broken branches and wires.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said crews from outside Toronto had been called in to help clean up after the storm.

"This has been a very unusual situation," she said.

"I understand there are 250 of the Toronto Hydro and other hydro service bucket trucks out right now working with back-up crews, and as you all know there are crews from other jurisdictions.

Workers restore power to homes in suburban Toronto

"I've met people from Kingston who have come here, people from Manitoba who have come in order to help with the clean-up."

Local media has reported that some 30,000 households in Ontario and New Brunswick remain without electricity, including 18,000 homes in Toronto alone.

There are concerns that warmer temperatures and gusty winds could cause fresh power outages as melting ice and falling branches threaten to snap power lines.

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Volkswagen Camper Van Reaches End Of The Road

By Greg Milam, US Correspondent

One of the most iconic vehicles in motoring history has finally reached the end of the road.

The last ever Volkswagen "Type 2" - more commonly known as the VW Camper, kombi or bus - rolls off the production line on December 31.

It is being retired after 64 years in continuous production because it cannot be adapted to meet modern safety regulations.

The last kombi will be made in Brazil, the country which has produced them for 56 years and where they are a vital thread in the fabric of everyday life.

A vehicle that came to symbolise the counter-culture in much of the world - as the van of choice for hippies and surfers alike - remains very much a mundane staple in Brazil.

It seems that everyone you talk to learned to drive in one and everywhere you turn they are being used to sell, deliver or provide shelter.

Labourers work on a Volkswagen assembly line in Brazil this month

Angelisa Stein is making a movie to mark the passing of the kombi. She told Sky News: "It is a car that is in touch with a lot of generations here. It will not be the same to have just another car."

The kombi is being phased out because modern requirements such as anti-lock brakes and airbags cannot be fitted into a frame that has changed little in 50 years.

A run of 600 last edition kombis - priced at £25,000 each - has sparked a rush among collectors and nostalgic fans.

Driving one of the last ones - with no air conditioning and "stirring custard" gear box - is remarkably reminiscent of driving one from the 1970s. Even down to the feeling of being behind the wheel of something special.

Of course, with a production run of around 10 million kombis, there are plenty that will be around for many years to come.

At a classic car rally in Rio, owners proudly showed off customised vans and talked of their sadness at the end of the kombi era.

Mechanic Adriano Godinho told Sky News: "It is a car which has represented a lot for us in this country.

"It has been used to transport goods, it is a workman's car, it is a family car, so it is something that's in us. It is part of the family."

The van was originally named the "Type 2" as it was only the second vehicle the company made after the Beetle.

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Israel Fires Shells In Response To Rockets

Israel has fired 20 artillery shells into Lebanon in response to two rockets that were launched in the opposite direction.

The Lebanese rockets landed in a field near the town of Kiryat Shmona, the Israeli military said in a statement, causing no injuries or damage.

Israel responded with artillery fire, with witnesses in southern Lebanon reporting more than 20 shells hitting two towns.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

An Israeli military spokesman said: "The Israeli artillery responded to rocket attacks from Lebanon against Israel that left no victims, targeting the area where these projectiles were fired from."

The border between the two countries has been relatively quiet since a war between Israel and Lebanon's Hizbollah militant group in 2006.

A Lebanese soldier examines the remains of an Israeli artillery shell

However, tensions rose this month when an Israeli soldier was shot dead by Lebanese troops while driving near the border on December 16.

Last week, Hizbollah blamed Israel for the assassination of one of its commanders in Beirut, an accusation Israel has denied.

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Lorry Driver Trapped After Highway Collapses

A lorry driver has had a lucky escape after being trapped when the coastal highway he was travelling on collapsed in Mexico.

Gabriel Gonzalez Cuevas' vehicle was carrying 36 tons of cement and it was too heavy to drive away after the tarmac broke up.

However, several other lorries behind him were able to leave the area by reversing.

He said he waited hours before heavy machinery arrived to deal with the incident and then authorities ordered him to leave because of safety concerns.

He was able to walk away uninjured.

The road, which connects Ensenada and Tijuana, collapsed near Salsipuedes around 2am local time on Saturday.

The highway remains closed and the Ensenada municipal president has reportedly said repairs could take over a year.

The area was struck by an earthquake in the middle of December but officials have not revealed what caused the road collapse.

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Building With Hole Is For 'Flashy Rich People'

Popularly known as the "the flashy rich people's circle", an upright circular building with a 47-metre-wide hole in the middle is proving controversial.

The yellow structure, in the shape of giant Polo mint, has recently been completed and has been praised and criticised alike in China.

One local resident called it "unique" but some people on the internet said it was a crass symbol of wealth and nicknamed it "Tuhao Circle" or "Copper Coin Building".

The 33-storey-high Guangzhou Circle Building is designed to resemble an ancient Chinese jade disc.

It is becoming a landmark of Guangzhou city, despite being in the middle of a suburb 40 minutes away from the central business district.

Architect Joseph di Pasquale drew inspiration from seeing a jade disc at a museum in Guangzhou.

The structure has been criticised by some

He said the hole in the building was key to the structure because the empty centre would evoke an emotional response from its viewers.

It also forms a figure-eight with its reflection on the Pearl River, suggesting the Chinese lucky number eight.

"I think he (the architect) is very brave. He made something that other people did not have the courage to make. It's a circular building, which is really unique in Guangzhou," said architecture student, Ash Sze.

One unidentified student said: "It's quite unusual. I'm quite intrigued to see a building with a circular hole in the middle. Personally, I think it's for the flashy rich people."

The building will house China's largest plastics trading floor, the Guangdong Plastics Exchange, where 300bn yuan (£30bn) worth of plastic raw materials and goods are traded annually.

Encased in 8,920 copper plates and built at a cost of around 70m yuan (£7m), the building on an island in Yangzhong county in the province of Jiangsu, hovers 15 storeys above ground.

It is not the first controversial building in China.

Earlier this year, a viewing tower built in the shape of a giant puffer fish caused a storm of protest on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter.

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Michael Schumacher Hurt In Skiing Accident

Former motor racing world champion Michael Schumacher has suffered a head injury in a skiing accident.

The 44-year-old sportsman was wearing a helmet when he reportedly hit his head on a rock in the French Alps.

He was airlifted off the mountain and is now in hospital after the accident in the resort of Meribel in the popular Three Valleys area.

His life was not in danger, according to French Mountain Gendarmerie, and it was understood he did not lose consciousness.

Schumacher was being treated at a hospital in Grenoble

The duty manager at the hospital in Grenoble told Sky News that Schumacher had been admitted and was undergoing a scan.

He said he had no further information and that ''his injuries are being examined at the moment''.

There was some confusion as to exactly where Schumacher was when he fell.

The Gendarmerie, who said he sustained a "relatively serious" head injury in the accident, claimed he was at the junction of two trails.

The German F1 legend skiing in Italy in 2006

But the ski resort's sales director Oliver Desaulty told Sky News he was skiing off-piste.

Mr Desaulty said rescuers quickly reached the Formula One legend.

"Around 11am Michael Schumacher fell on the slopes," he said. "Well it was not really on the slopes – he was skiing a bit off-piste.

"(He was) close to a slope called Mauduit and he hurt his head.

"We are sure he had a helmet – we hope it will be okay. Some security patrol got to the spot immediately to check everything and we had to ask for a helicopter to take him to the hospital."

Meribel officials have also told French media that Schumacher was in shock but conscious, and added that police were looking into the incident.

His agent, Sabine Kehm, said: ''Michael fell on his head during a private ski trip in the French Alps.

"He was hospitalised and is receiving medical care. We ask for your understanding that we cannot give a running commentary on his state of health.

"He was wearing a helmet and was not alone.''

Schumacher, who first retired in 2006, owns a chalet in the resort and is a keen skier.

He was hurt seriously once before, in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 in Spain when he suffered neck and spine injuries.

He recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback in Formula One in 2010.

But he made a disappointing return to the sport, managing only one podium finish during his three years with Mercedes.

The German driver retired from F1 for a second time in December 2012.

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Colorado School Shooting: Teen Victim Dies

A Colorado student has died in hospital more than a week after she was shot by a high school classmate.

Claire Esther Davis, 17, had been in a coma since she was gunned down at point-blank range at Arapahoe High School in Centennial.

Friends and well-wishers had been posting messages online, and raising money to pay for her medical care.

Authorities say Karl Halverson Pierson, 18, entered the Arapahoe High School armed with a shotgun, a machete and three Molotov cocktails on December 13.

Officials said Pierson had been kicked off the school's debate team and apparently bore a grudge towards the team's coach.

His attack lasted just 80 seconds. He reportedly fired one bullet down a school hallway, before shooting Ms Davis, who was sitting nearby with a friend.

Pierson then turned the gun on himself and inflicted a fatal gunshot wound.

A student stands outside the Arapahoe High School in Colorado

A statement posted on the Littleton Adventist Hospital's Facebook page confirmed Ms Davis' death.

"It is with heavy hearts that we share that at 4.29pm (local time) this afternoon, Claire Davis passed away, with her family at her side," the statement said.

"Despite the best efforts of our physicians and nursing staff, and Claire's fighting spirit, her injuries were too severe and the most advanced medical treatments could not prevent this tragic loss of life.

"Claire's death is immensely heartbreaking for our entire community, our staff and our families."

The hospital said that details about a public memorial service would be released later.

The shooting took place just a few miles from the site of last year's Aurora cinema shooting that left 12 people dead and scores wounded during a Batman movie screening.

The school is also located close to the scene of the 1999 Columbine shooting in which 13 were shot dead.

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Syria 'Must Answer' For Brit Surgeon's Death

The Prime Minister has called for those responsible for the death of a British surgeon while in custody in Syria to be held to account.

He wrote a letter to Abbas Khan's mother Fatima on Friday, describing her son's death as an "appalling tragedy".

It reads: "Abbas' death is a sickening and appalling tragedy and it is right that the Syrian regime should answer for it.

Fatima Khan at Heathrow Airport after returning with her son's body

"Their despicable treatment of him and refusal to engage with us or the Czechs to enable us to support him is utterly unacceptable.

"We will continue to press for those responsible to be held to account."

Married father-of-two Dr Khan, 32, was arrested more than a year ago after travelling to the rebel-held city of Aleppo to treat injured civilians.

His family believe he was abused while in custody and have blamed the Syrian regime for his death, despite claims by authorities in Damascus that he took his own life.

The orthopaedic surgeon was on the verge of being released from prison and being allowed home for Christmas.

Mrs Khan and Abbas' brother Afroze arrived at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday from Beirut on the plane carrying his coffin, which has been taken to Romford Hospital.

She accused the Assad regime of murdering her son.

Dr Abbas Khan died while being held in custody in Syria

She said: "I don't know why they killed my son. I want to ask why on the release date they killed my son. I want answers why they killed my son.

"They are liars, every ministry there in Damascus is full of lies. They killed my son.

"He was in a civilian prison and on Friday it was a holiday in Damascus... and they went and picked him up, a helpless guy, brought him, kept him two days, tortured him more and they killed him Monday morning."

Abbas' brother Shahnawaz Khan and sister Sara Khan told Sky News the family felt let down by British authorities.

He said: "Everything that the Syrian government has done over these past 13 months to us has been arduous and has inflicted much insult upon us.

"I guess this was their final attempt to inflict as much misery upon us as they could."

His brother also dismissed allegations the surgeon had jihadi links and had "picked sides" in the Syrian civil war.

David Cameron described Abbas Khan's death as "sickening"

Sara Khan added: "We want the British Government to help the family in getting those answers from the Syrians as somebody needs to own up for this absolutely cruel injustice that has been done to my brother."

Michael Mansfield QC, a criminal barrister who has been advising the Khan family, said: "Once his body is taken to the place of burial, which I understand is east London, then the coroner for that area - because it is a sudden, unnatural and violent death - has an obligation to investigate.

"Dr Khan was due to be released within two or three days, it's most unlikely that someone with the prospect of freedom having been incarcerated for 13 months would take their own life."

A Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman said on Sunday: "Responsibility for Dr Khan's death lies with the Syrian authorities and we are pressing for answers about what happened.

"As Mr Robertson, the Minister of State for the Middle East, said there can be no excuse whatsoever for the treatment Dr Khan suffered from the Syrian authorities.

"In November, Minister Robertson wrote making clear our concerns about his welfare and treatment, stressing that the regime's failure to provide any information indicating Dr Khan's continued detention was legitimate meant his position should be reviewed immediately. These requests were consistently ignored."

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South Sudan Conflict: Last UK Airlift Mission

The UK is to charter its third and final flight to evacuate British nationals from the troubled East African state as fighting spreads.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the plane would be sent to the capital city of Juba on Monday afternoon and warned that the government would struggle to help anyone who chose to stay behind.

An FCO spokesman said: "We strongly advise all British nationals in South Sudan to leave the country if they can do so safely. You may have difficulty leaving in the event of a further deterioration in security."

It comes as US President Barack Obama said any effort in South Sudan to seize power through military force will lead America and others to cut off support.

"This conflict can only be resolved peacefully through negotiations," the White House said in a statement.

Two previous planes have provided an escape route for British nationals

"Any effort to seize power through the use of military force will result in the end of longstanding support from the United States and the international community."

British military transport planes have been used to evacuate two groups of UK nationals over recent days.

On Saturday, a US rescue plane was hit by incoming fire leaving four American service personnel injured.

Officials said the aircraft was heading for an evacuation site in Bor, the capital of the state of Jonglei and the scene of some of the country's worst violence in the past week.

After being fired at it reportedly turned around and headed to Kampala in Uganda. From there the wounded service personnel were flown to Nairobi, Kenya, for medical treatment.

Some of South Sudan's worst violence has taken place in Bor

South Sudan blamed the attack on renegade troops.

Fighting broke out in the South Sudanese capital Juba between rival army factions last weekend following a reported coup attempt against President Salva Kiir Mayardit by soldiers loyal to his former deputy.

The violence has since spread to other regions and has claimed at least 500 lives, according to the United Nations.

Kenya said on Saturday it was sending troops to South Sudan to evacuate some 1,600 citizens. Many are trapped in Bor, which has been taken by rebels.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has "ordered the KDF (Kenya Defence Force) to commence immediate evacuation of the 1,600 Kenyans stranded in South Sudan", a spokesman said in a statement.

Up to 500 people are thought to have been killed since the reported coup

"Despite the relative calm in Juba, a number of other South Sudan towns have come under fire," he added, saying that Kenyans "are mainly in the town of Bor".

Others, in the towns of Rumbek, Ayod, and Panyabol "will also be airlifted to safety."

"The president has also ordered the immediate delivery of food, water and medicine to South Sudan (to help) tackle the emergency," the spokesman added.

"The delivery of these emergency supplies started this morning. Kenyan military aircraft are delivering consignments to South Sudan."

Kenya, which hosted the peace talks that ended the 1983-2005 civil war in Sudan, and which paved the way for South Sudan's independence two years ago, is also supporting efforts to end the latest crisis.

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Astronaut's Suit Problem Delays Next Spacewalk

Nasa has been forced to delay a spacewalk needed for urgent repairs after a new problem emerged with a US astronaut's spacesuit.

Rick Mastracchio checks out his suit before Saturday's spacewalk. Pic: Nasa

The decision to change the next outing on the International Space Station (ISS) from Monday to Tuesday will give the crew time to prepare a backup suit for Rick Mastracchio, the agency said.

A "configuration issue" emerged on Saturday after he re-entered the ISS airlock following the first phase to replace a broken cooling pump at the base.

Water may have entered the suit's sublimator - a device that helps to get rid of excess heat.

It could have been caused by Mr Mastracchio, 53, inadvertently turning on a water switch in the airlock for a couple of seconds.

It was not believed to be the same type of issue that caused a dangerous water leak in the helmet of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano in July.

Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins on their spacewalk: Pic: Nasa

That was traced to contamination in a fan pump separator that circulates water and air in the suit and removes moisture from air.

The first spacewalk by Mr Mastracchio and fellow US astronaut Mike Hopkins lasted five and a half hours on Saturday - an hour earlier than planned.

They carried out their key task - disconnecting the old cooling pump which is about the size of a refrigerator.

They were also able to remove it from its pallet, which had been scheduled for Monday.

Mr Hopkins, 44, wore Mr Parmitano's spacesuit, but it had been fitted with a new fan pump separator.

The mission is to replace a cooling pump. Pic: Nasa

On the Americans' helmets were homemade snorkels from pieces of plastic tubing and Velcro, which they could have used for breathing in case of another water leak.

Nasa said: "During repressurisation of the station's airlock following the spacewalk, a spacesuit configuration issue put the suit Mastracchio was wearing in question for the next excursion - specifically whether water entered into the suit's sublimator inside the airlock.

Rick Mastracchio and Mike Hopkins pictured on the ISS. Pic: Nasa

"Both Mastracchio and Hopkins reported dry conditions repeatedly throughout Saturday's activities and the two were never in danger."

They now plan to fit the new pump on Tuesday and may not need a third spacewalk if all goes to plan.

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Deadly US Storm Cuts Power And Hits Flights

A deadly storm has been sweeping across the central and southern US, leaving thousands without power and forcing many flights to be cancelled or delayed.

Tornadoes and powerful winds, as well as ice and flooding, came as millions of people were preparing to head home by air and road for Christmas.

The "particularly strong storm" threatened to frustrate travellers from Texas to Nova Scotia as it affected a 2,000-mile area.

At least two people have been killed in the strong gusts, including a man whose mobile home overturned in northern Mississippi.

Another man died when his car hit a tree that fell across a road in the southeastern part of the state.

At the storm's height, more than 22,000 people lost power in northern Mississippi.

Trees were brought down by the storm. Pic: CBS News

In Arkansas, at least five people were injured and two dozen homes were damaged after two apparent tornadoes struck.

In the northeast, ice and whipping winds battered parts of New York and Vermont as officials urged motorists to avoid travelling in dangerously slippy conditions.

More than 10,000 customers were without power in upstate New York as the storm was forecast to linger into Sunday afternoon.

About 5,000 flights have been hit nationwide with most of the disruption in and out of major hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Some 94.5 million Americans were planning to travel by road or air during the holiday season, which runs from Saturday until New Year's Day.

The system was a strange swirl of wintry and spring-like weather as it passed over areas in the Midwest, where there were freezing temperatures, and places like Memphis, where temperatures surpassed 70F (21C).

The National Weather Service said severe storms with damaging winds were possible on Sunday in northern Georgia, including Atlanta.

Forecasters says the storm is 'particularly strong'. Pic: CBS News

A flood watch for the region was in effect until Monday.

Weather service spokesman Ed Danaher told CBS News: "This is a particularly strong storm with very warm, near record-breaking temperatures in the East and very cold air in the Midwest.

"That contrast is the sort of conditions that are favourable for not only winter weather but also tornadoes."

Darren Hall, 45, of Raymore, Missouri., normally drives to St. Louis for the holiday.

But he decided not to risk it because of the freezing rain hitting the area and the promise of worse to come.

Instead, he waited for a train at Kansas City's Union Station.

He said: "You don't have to deal with all the roads. It's safer, less hassle."

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Spain Awaits €2.5bn El Gordo Lottery Results

Spain came to a virtual standstill as the winning numbers of the country's most popular Christmas lottery, offering €2.5bn (£2bn) in prize money, were announced.

The top prize - known as El Gordo, meaning the Fat One - gives lucky winners €400,000 (£334,660) per ticket, while the second-best number nets €125,000 (£104,581).

Millions of ticket holders were either glued to a television set or packed inside Madrid's Teatro Real opera house for the live draw in the hope that the schoolchildren singing the winning numbers would call out their ticket.

Inside the Teatro Real in Madrid where the draw was held

The top prize ticket number was revealed as 62246, and the second as 79712.

Among the audience was Jesus Lorente, who bought his second prize ticket at a gas station in Granadilla de Abona on the Canary Island resort of Tenerife.

Asked what he planned to do with the money, he said he would use it to clear his debts.

"The ticket is stored in a safe place at home," he said.

Second prize winner Jesus Lorente

Unlike lotteries that offer one large jackpot, El Gordo gives thousands of ticket holders a chance of scooping some prize money.

It comes just days after a Georgia woman claimed her half of the $636m (£389m) Mega Millions draw in the US.

The second winner has yet to step forward to claim their share of the second-largest jackpot in US history.

In March 2012, the largest jackpot in US history of $656m (£401m) was spilt among three winning tickets.

The El Gordo prize pot dwarfs the maximum EuroMillions jackpot, which can grow to a maximum of £161.5m. Any prize money which would boost the jackpot above that figure would be passed down to the next prize-winning level.

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Khodorkovsky Vows To Help Political Prisoners

Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has vowed to help get other political prisoners released from Russian jails after he was freed.

The Kremlin critic says people should not see him as a "symbol" that there are no other such detainees behind bars in the country.

The 50-year-old ex-inmate said he would do "all I can" to ensure they win their freedom.

He said Western governments should "remember I am not the last political prisoner in Russia" and he will not shy away from public activity.

But he cautioned he would not be "involved in the struggle for power" in Russia.

The former chief executive and founder of the Yukos oil giant said he had no plans to return to business but he claimed to be in a good financial situation.

Mr Khodorkovsky wears headphones to get translations

He had earlier told a Russian magazine, The New Times, that he would not be looking for a return of his enormous stake in the now-defunct oil company.

Once Russia's richest man, Mr Khodorkovsky spent 10 years in jail on what many in the West considered trumped-up political charges by President Vladimir Putin's government.

He was pardoned by the president on Friday and released from a prison camp in Segezha, northwest Russia, before immediately flying to Berlin.

At a packed news conference, he spoke at the Berlin Wall museum in the symbolic Cold War location of Checkpoint Charlie.

He revealed he had no choice about his end destination, saying he only learnt he would be going to Germany during his transfer.

The prison camp in northwest Russia where Mr Khodorkovsky was held

The ex-tycoon thanked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for working on his release.

Due to a lawsuit for hundreds of millions of pounds in damages stemming from his first 2005 conviction, there was "no guarantee" that if he returned to Russia he would be allowed to leave again.

Asked about his relationship with Mr Putin, Mr Khodorkovsky refused to be drawn into expressing hatred towards the leader.

He said that while he had been treated harshly "my family had never been touched".

He added that he was against a boycott of the Sochi Olympics next February, saying a "festival of sport should not be spoilt" amid claims it could be targeted over Russia's anti-gay laws. It should not, however, become a "festival of Vladimir Putin", he said.

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George Zimmerman Painting Sells For $100K

An original oil painting by George Zimmerman, the neighbourhood watch volunteer who shot Miami student Trayvon Martin, has fetched more than $100,000 on eBay.

The signed 18-inch-by-24-inch artwork depicts part of a blue American flag and includes the words "God," "one nation," and "with liberty and justice for all" printed in the stripes.

It was posted on the auction site by Mr Zimmerman on the morning of Monday, December 16, and sparked a bidding frenzy.

The first offer was for a mere $0.99 but within a day the bidding had reached an astonishing $99,999.

George Zimmerman says his art allows him to 'reflect' and 'remain indoors'

The painting eventually went for $100,099.99 when the auction closed at 9.55am on Saturday.

The unknown buyer was one of 24 people who put in a total of 96 bids for what Mr Zimmerman says was his "first hand-painted artwork".

In his eBay listing he added: "Everyone has been asking what I have been doing with myself. I found a creative, way to express myself, my emotions and the symbols that represent my experiences.

The painting's listing on eBay

"My art work allows me to reflect, providing a therapeutic outlet and allows me to remain indoors :-) I hope you enjoy owning this piece as much as I enjoyed creating it. Your friend, George Zimmerman."

Mr Zimmerman was accused of profiling, following and shooting Trayvon, 17, a guest in a gated development in Sanford, Florida as the teenager was returning from a trip to a local convenience store.

The 30-year-old claimed self-defence and was acquitted by a six-person jury earlier this year, a verdict which sparked nationwide protests.

The 30-year-old in court

Since his acquittal Mr Zimmerman has had several brushes with the law including being stopped twice for speeding, in Texas and Florida.

In September, he was questioned by police after his estranged wife called 911 saying he threatened her with a gun. He was not charged over the alleged incident, which occurred a week after she filed for divorce.

In November, Mr Zimmerman was arrested on domestic violence charges, which were later dropped after his girlfriend withdrew her complaint.

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Twitter Aids Row: 'Insensitive' PR Woman Sorry

A PR executive who sparked a row after "carelessly" tweeting about Aids in Africa as she headed to the continent has apologised for her insensitivity, saying she is "ashamed".

American Justine Sacco was sacked over the message from her Twitter account that read: "Going to Africa. Hope I don't get Aids. Just kidding. I'm white!"

The tweet, reportedly sent as she boarded a plane from London to South Africa, quickly spread on the microblogging site, with social media users expressing their disgust.

The controversy apparently erupted while Ms Sacco was on the plane with no internet access and she started trending.

Her account has now been deleted.

Ms Sacco, who was fired from her job at internet giant InterActive Corp, which owns popular websites like Match.com, Dictionary.com, and Vimeo, has released a statement.

It read: "Words cannot express how sorry I am, and how necessary it is for me to apologise to the people of South Africa, who I have offended due to a needless and careless tweet.

"There is an Aids crisis taking place in this country, that we read about in America, but do not live with or face on a continuous basis.

"Unfortunately, it is terribly easy to be cavalier about an epidemic that one has never witnessed firsthand.

"For being insensitive to this crisis - which does not discriminate by race, gender or sexual orientation, but which terrifies us all uniformly - and to the millions of people living with the virus, I am ashamed.

"This is my father's country, and I was born here. I cherish my ties to South Africa and my frequent visits, but I am in anguish knowing that my remarks have caused pain to so many people here; my family, friends and fellow South Africans.

"I am very sorry for the pain I caused."

InterActive Corp issued a statement on Saturday distancing itself from the tweet and saying the employee was fired.

"There is no excuse for the hateful statements that have been made and we condemn them unequivocally," it said.

"We hope, however, that time and action, and the forgiving human spirit, will not result in the wholesale condemnation of an individual who we have otherwise known to be a decent person at core."

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'CIA Helped Kill Colombian Rebel Leaders'

A covert CIA programme has helped the Colombian government kill at least two dozen rebel leaders, according to the Washington Post.

The paper claims the National Security Agency (NSA) has also provided it with "substantial eavesdropping help".

In addition, the US gave Colombia GPS equipment that can transform regular munitions into "smart bombs" capable of homing in on targets, even in dense jungles.

The Post says Colombia used smart bombs when it killed a top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in March 2008.

Paul Reyes was in one of the jungle camps set up by the rebels just across the border in Ecuador when the attack was carried out.

The Washington Post report is based on interviews with more than 30 former and current US and Colombian officials.

It said they had spoken on condition of anonymity because the CIA programme is classified and ongoing.

The CIA would not comment on the Post's report, although Colombian president Juan Santos said the CIA has been "of help", providing Colombian forces with "better training and knowledge."

The CIA hjas declined to comment on the story

The multibillion-dollar programme was apparently funded secretly and separately from $9bn in aid the US has openly provided to Colombia, mostly in military assistance.

It was authorised by President George W Bush and has continued under Barack Obama, the newspaper reported.

Colombia's government and FARC have been engaged in peace talks in Havana since late 2012, but there has been no ceasefire between the two sides.

Earlier this month, President Santos blamed the rebels for an attack on a police post that killed nine people, including civilians, military and a police officer.

The US-backed military build-up has reduced FARC's ranks to about 9,000 fighters and killed several top commanders,

The rebels, who took up arms almost 50 years ago in 1964, insist they are still a powerful force.

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Snow Storm: Up To 35cm Falls In North America

Further heavy snowfall has blanketed parts of the United States after another weekend of wintry weather brought travel disruption to 17 states.

At least 10 inches (25cm) of snow fell across high ground in southern New York and northern Pennsylvania.

More than five inches were reported in New York City, but the weather did not stop crowds flocking to Times Square or hardy runners competing in a 15km (nine-mile) race.

Forecasters warned of near-blizzard conditions in coastal Maine, where up to 14 inches (36cm) of snow could fall, while snow showers were also possible in North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan.

Some of heaviest snow fell around the Great Lakes and across the border in Ontario, Canada.

The winter storm caused more than 1,200 weekend flights to be cancelled, including at the internationally important Liberty and O'Hare airports in Newark and Chicago respectively.

It also created treacherous driving conditions as people headed out to complete their Christmas shopping.

A string of crashes blocked roads in Indiana, while snow and ice was reported on almost all routes between Missouri and Massachusetts.

Shopping malls were quieter than normal for mid-December, with empty parking spaces used to pile up snow swept from roads.

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Iran Claims 'MI6 Spy' On Trial After Capture

Iran says it has arrested a "spy" accused of working for the British secret intelligence service.

A court official said the man had confessed to his alleged crimes and was on trial.

He was detained in the town of Kerman in southeast Iran after authorities spent months tracking him down, the semi-official ISNA news agency said.

The suspect is accused of meeting four British intelligence operatives and giving them information.

Dadkhoda Salari, head of the Kerman revolutionary court, said: "Through the efforts of Iranian security forces, an MI6 spy has been arrested.

"He has met British intelligence officers in person 11 times, both inside the country and abroad, and provided them with intelligence."

It has not been suggested the alleged spy is a Briton, and Tehran has a history of announcing the arrest of people it claims are spying without releasing more details.

But the news is potentially embarrassing at a time when diplomatic relations between the UK and Iran had been improving after a two-year freeze.

On Friday, Iran's new envoy to Britain, Hassan Habibollah-Zadeh, held talks in London on his first visit since his appointment in November.

And a British diplomat, non-resident charge d'affaires Ajay Sharma, said he had "detailed and constructive discussions" about the UK's relationship with Iran during talks earlier this month.

He visited the site of the UK's embassy in the Iranian capital to assess the damage caused when it was ransacked by a mob in 2011, an incident which prompted the Government to pull its staff out of the country.

The thaw in relations between Tehran and the international community has also seen a deal reached over its nuclear programme.

Responding to the reported arrest a Foreign Office spokesman said: "We don't comment on intelligence matters."

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Arizona Wildfire: Hotshot's Call For Help

By Toby Sadler, Sky News Reporter

A crew of 19 firefighters killed in a catastrophic Arizona wildfire can be heard desperately radioing in for help before their deaths in newly released recordings.

A helmet cam on one fireman picked up the audio as well as footage which showed the blaze bearing down on the Granite Mountain Hotshots team as they faced a 100ft wall of flames.

"Breaking in on Arizona 16, Granite Mountain Hotshots, we are in front of the flaming front," one member said as they realised they were in trouble in Yarnell Hill last summer.

The recordings were released after an investigation revealed commanders made numerous mistakes managing the wildfire that also destroyed more than 100 homes.

Moments before the hotshots deployed their fire shelters, they called for water-dropping aircraft: "Air Attack, Granite Mountain 7!"

The response was: "Okay ... unit that's hollerin' in the radio, I need you to quit, and ... break, Operations Bravo 33."

But fire commanders did not even know where the hotshots were.

Only one of the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew survived

"So you're on the south side of the fire then? We've got several aircraft coming to you. We'll see if we can't take care of business for you."

Deborah Pfingston, the mother of firefighter Andrew Ashcraft, who died, said: "It shows confusion and that's heart-breaking."

The last dispatch from the Hotshots came from the group's leader Eric Marsh.

He said: "Yeah, I'm here with Granite Mountain Hotshots, our escape route has been cut off.

Audio and video recordings have been released

"We are preparing a deployment site and we are burned out around ourselves in the brush and I'll give you a call when we are under the shelters."

At 4.38pm that day - June 30 - there was a call from dispatch.

"Division Alpha, Bravo 33. Do you hear a helicopter?" But there was no reply.

"Little by little the truth is coming out," said Mr Ashcraft's wife Juliann.

However, to Ms Pfingston the recordings also provide some comfort.

"These guys were working to save each other to the very last moment, and that is commendable," she said.

Brendan McDonough was the sole survivor of the crew

Only one of the elite crew, 21-year-old Brendan McDonough, survived the blaze.

He was on a hilltop as a lookout and warned his crew the weather was changing rapidly.

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Astronaut Hadfield Hopes For Human Moon Base

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield has told Sky News the next logical step in space exploration would be a permanent base on the Moon.

He was speaking to Sky News following China's successful mission to soft land a rover probe on the Moon's surface.

Commander Hadfield found fame after posting videos of himself singing and tweeting about his experiences on the International Space Station.

And he has now claimed astronauts could be living on the Moon in 20 years or more if space nations work together.

The former head of the ISS said: "I hope we're seeing the start of a new space co-operation. India has spent a probe to Mars. Other nations have sent probes to other planets.

Commander Hadfield's hopes remain some way off

"The logical way is together. I hope it's not just a race that will cross some finish line and stop."

Commander Hadfield praised China's mission as a "great step forward", adding it was "extremely complex and demanding to land something on the Moon".

The 'Jade Rabbit' rover leaves its landing vehicle

On Saturday, China carried out the first successful soft landing there for nearly 40 years and is only the third nation to do so after the US and former Soviet Union. The last one was by the USSR in 1976.

The 140kg (300lb) "Jade Rabbit" rover separated from its much larger landing vehicle early on Sunday, around seven hours after the unmanned Chang'e 3 space probe touched down.

The six-wheeled rover will survey the Moon's geological structure and surface and look for natural resources for three months, while the lander will carry out scientific explorations at the landing site for a year.

"It's a demonstration of the increased capability of China" and if Beijing can team up with other countries then the "next logical step" would be a permanent base on the Moon, he went on.

"As to when we could start moving there, my guess is it would be after the ISS has finished its natural life - maybe a dozen or 15 years from now.

"Personally I hope the Moon is where we go. Twenty years hence I suspect we will have people not just visiting but living permanently on another planet."

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Pope Francis' Skullcap Snatched Off

Pope Francis got a surprise when his skullcap was yanked off during a visit to a children's centre.

The Pontiff picked up a small boy and lifted him above his head during a visit to the Santa Marta Institute, a paediatric facility in the Vatican.

But the youngster spotted the Pope's white Zuchetto (skullcap) and deftly snatched it with his right hand.

A grinning Pope Francis managed to grab the skullcap and replace it on his head, but not before the youngster had a good feel of his head and white hair.

Earlier, he had been presented with a cake with candles by the children at the centre, three days before his 77th birthday.

He blew out the candles and told the children: "I'll tell you later if it's good or not."

The Pope kissed children in the medical centre and was given a cake

Last week, the Pope was named as Time Magazine's person of the year for 2013, narrowly beating National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden into second place.

Nancy Gibbs, the magazine's editor, said: "So much of what he has done in the brief nine months in this office changed the tone of what's coming out of the Vatican."

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Ireland Exits Bailout As Economy Turns Around

Ireland has become the first country in the eurozone to exit a bailout programme it was forced to take when it fell on hard times.

The country's economy, previously dubbed the Celtic Tiger because of it incredible growth, needed the emergency measure because its revenues fell and expenses increased in the wake of the financial crisis.

The bailout programme allowed the country access to £72bn (85bn euros) in cash to help pay its bills.

But the ready supply of money, from the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and EU, came at a price.

Experts from the IMF, ECB and EU were able to take partial control of Ireland's economy.

It led to a period of austerity, with taxes being raised and government spending cut, resulting in thousands of public jobs being lost.

It was also viewed as a national humiliation, with the public appalled that its leaders had been forced to go 'cap in hand' to outside bodies.

The government claims that the measures have helped Ireland's economy and jobs are now being created at a faster rate than for years.

The amount of interest Ireland was paying on its government debt began to increase as uncertainty over the country's future intensified and this is widely seen as the main reason for the problems.

The rate at which it borrows money has now fallen, which has allowed it to bring public expenditure under control.

Ireland is some distance ahead of other countries that suffered a similar fate.

Portugal is predicted to complete its programme next year, but Greece could be many years away yet. Other EU countries that are not members of the euro also face controls on their economies for some time.

Despite the bailout exit, Ireland's finance minister has warned the country is not out of danger yet.

He said the signs of sustained improvement were good, but it depended on the country's economy continuing to grow.

Michael Noonan said on Friday: "This isn't the end of the road. This is a very significant milestone on the road. But we must continue with the same types of policies.

"The real heroes and heroines of this are the Irish people. People are beginning to spend. Property prices are improving... it's fragile.

"But in my view things are building well and I would hope that next year would be better for a lot of people who have made a lot of sacrifices."

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Paul Walker: Funeral For Fast And Furious Star

A small and intimate funeral has been held for Fast and Furious star Paul Walker who died two weeks ago in a car crash.

Only his loved ones were invited to the 45-minute service which his family wanted to be extremely private.

The Porsche the 45-year-old actor was a passenger in hit a pole and burst into flames in Valencia, north of Los Angeles, shortly after leaving a charity event.

The Daily Mirror reported that the ceremony was held under a green awning to avoid the glare of the sun on those attending.

A picture of the actor was put on display at the event which is understood to have been attended by his 15-year-old daughter Meadow.

His ashes were interred after the ceremony at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Tyrese Gibson has paid tribute to Walker

His Fast and Furious co-stars joined extended relatives at another memorial service afterwards, according to E! Online.

Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris and Michelle Rodriguez were among about 200 who gathered to hear the actor's father Paul Walker Snr and his manager Matt Luber say a few words in tribute.

American singer-songwriter Ben Harper sang a song in the star's memory.

Afterwards, some of his co-stars posted tributes on social media.

Tyrese said on Instagram: "Today In a room full of your loved ones I wish today was your wedding instead.... God has a better plan even beyond ALL of our own understandings."

Ludacris said: "Always in our hearts…"

Ms Rodriguez added: "I said goodbye to a great man today, a man I never got to show just how much I love his spirit and his golden heart, 'stay golden pony boy'... I hope you get my tweet in heaven, ps your right; 'stop talking just do it already';) Love you Paul, your departure is fuel to my fire, well meet again, enjoy that light."

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Nelson Mandela Funeral Blog: As It Happened

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3:12pm UK, Sunday 15 December 2013

Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid

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Mandela Funeral: End Of 'Extraordinary Journey'

Nelson Mandela, hailed as "Africa's greatest son" at an emotional state funeral, has been laid to rest near his childhood home.

The burial of the anti-apartheid icon followed a service attended by 4,000 mourners from across the world, at which South African President Jacob Zuma declared Mr Mandela's "extraordinary journey" was now over.

"It is the end of 95 glorious years of this freedom fighter, a dedicated and humble servant of the people of South Africa," he said during a poignant speech.

Mr Mandela's coffin is carried along a hilltop overlooking Qunu village

"He was a fountain of wisdom, a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope for all those fighting for a just world order."

In contrast to the funeral, held in a huge tent at Mr Mandela's ancestral home of Qunu, in South Africa's Eastern Cape, the burial service was a smaller affair.

Several hundred of Mr Mandela's family and closest friends gathered at the grave site, as military jets and helicopters performed a fly past.

Television cameras cut away as officials lowered his body into the ground.

Earlier, Mr Mandela's coffin was carried to the funeral on a military carriage and covered with the South African flag, as a 21-gun salute echoed around his childhood home.

It was placed in front of a stage, on which 95 candles - one for each year of his life - were lit and a huge portrait of the smiling former president was displayed.

Mourners heard from political leaders, Mr Mandela's family and some of his closest friends during an emotional service that brought both tears and laughter.

Mr Mandela's family and South Africa's president sit beside his coffin

Ahmed Kathrada, who was imprisoned on Robben Island for 26 years with Mr Mandela, gave a memorable speech, recalling a man he described as his "elder brother".

Speaking directly to his friend, he said: "What can we say ... in these, our last, final moments together?

"Your abundant reserves of love, simplicity, honesty, service, humility, care, courage, foresight, patience, tolerance, equality and justice continually serve as a source of enormous strength to millions."

Mr Kathrada said his close friend was an "enormous" source of strength

Holding back tears, he added: "My life is in a void and I don't know who to turn to."

Hailemariam Desalegn, the Ethiopian Prime Minister and chairman of the African Union, said: "His was a life of struggle in the face of unparalleled odds. A life of suffering in the hands of malicious perpetrators of injustice. A life of perseverance in the face of challenge.

"But we are not mourning. We are celebrating humanity at its finest. We should find consolation that his legacy will live on for eternity."

Mr Mandela's ex-wife Winnie Mandela (left) and widow Graca Machel (centre)

Jakaya Kikwete, the President of Tanzania, described Mr Mandela as "our leader, our hero, our icon and our father", while Kenneth Kanda, the former president of Zambia, added: "As we go on without Madiba ... let us remember the love he had for us all. Without that, we cannot succeed."

High-profile guests included businessman Sir Richard Branson, TV chat show host Oprah Winfrey and actor Idris Elba, who plays Mr Mandela in a forthcoming film about his life, while prominent US civil rights activist Reverend Jessie Jackson and Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams also made the journey.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in the audience after earlier claiming he had not received an invitation, while the Prince of Wales attended on behalf of the Queen.

Oprah Winfrey and Sir Richard Branson attended the service

During his speech, Mr Zuma described his predecessor as a man "so great and yet so humble".

"We wish to express two simple words," he said. "Thank you. Thank you for being everything we wanted and needed in a leader during a critical period in our lives."

He added: "We'll cherish every moment we spent with you.

"You were an exceptional human being and you will remain our guiding light as we continue our journey to build the South Africa of your dreams."

Archbishop Desmond Tutu initially thought he had missed out on an invite

As the funeral was beamed to specially erected big screens on hillsides around Mr Mandela's home, warriors, dressed in their colourful tribal outfits, gathered to sing, dance and clap.

Sky News' Special Correspondent Alex Crawford, in Qunu, said: "The authorities and the Mandela family have always insisted this should be a coming together of a huge, important state funeral with all its pomp and ceremony, and the traditions of Mr Mandela's tribe.

"These past 10 days have been a chance not just for local people to grieve and to mourn, but also to remember how much of a colossus this man was, both in world politics and South African history."

Members of the armed forces marched alongside Mr Mandela's coffin

Mr Mandela's body arrived in South Africa's Eastern Cape on board a military plane, escorted by two fighter jets.

Tens of thousands of people lined the roads as the funeral procession made the short journey from Mthatha airport to Qunu, although some were angry the cortege did not stop to allow them time to pay their respects.

Preparations for service - the first ever state funeral in South Africa - were also marred by a public spat between the country's government and Mr Tutu, one of the most prominent survivors in the long struggle against apartheid.

A 21-gun salute heralded the arrival of Nelson Mandela's coffin

Mr Tutu, a Nobel laureate who has been critical of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, initially said he was not invited - an apparent snub denied by the government.

More than 100,000 people saw Mr Mandela's body lying in state in Pretoria over the last three days, but some had to be turned away.

The former leader, who was imprisoned for 27 years for opposing racist apartheid before emerging in 1990 to forge a new democratic South Africa, died on December 5.

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