Chelsea will show Ranieri respect

Chelsea will show ex-coach Claudio Ranieri a warm welcome when he returns with Juventus for Wednesday's Champions League last 16 first-leg match.

Current coach Guus Hiddink and midfield star Frank Lampard, signed by Ranieri in 2001, paid tribute to the Italian.

"He's a gentleman coach," said Hiddink. "He's very intelligent."

Lampard said: "Without Claudio Ranieri, I wouldn't be here now. I've the greatest respect for him as a great man as well as a great manager."

Ranieri spent four years at Stamford Bridge, guiding Chelsea to their first Champions League semi-final in May 2004 before he was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich weeks later.

He signed Lampard for £11m from West Ham while bringing William Gallas, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge, Juan Sebastian Veron, Arjen Robben and Hernan Crespo to west London, as well as promoting John Terry to club captain.

Lampard acknowledges Ranieri legacy

"He helped me develop from a West Ham player who maybe hadn't seen the real world in footballing terms, and he opened my eyes to things," said the midfielder.

"He took Chelsea from a side that finished in the top six to one that finished in the top four.

"He should take credit for what he did in his time here. I'm looking forward to seeing him again very much.

"I don't think he's going to be thinking about proving points. He'll be thinking about getting through to the next round of the Champions League, like us."

Since leaving Chelsea, Ranieri coached Spanish club Valencia before returning to Italy, first with Parma before taking over at Juventus in June 2007.

606: DEBATE This man needs more credit than some CFC fans give him oa515noble

He crossed paths with Hiddink during his first spell in Spain with Valencia during the 1998 La Liga season, when the Dutchman was manager of Real Madrid.

And Hiddink has nothing but respect for Ranieri's methods.

"Modest is maybe not the word, but he knows how to cope with the press and the pressure in this particular job. I respect him very much," he said.

"He has several abilities. When he was working here, he made a team that was very competitive for the Premier League.

"Secondly, recently, he's very good at organising his team. His teams show themselves to have enormous tactical discipline. It's very difficult to play those teams that he is managing."

Looking back to his departure in 2004, Ranieri said: "I think even if we had won the Champions League I knew my days were numbered.

"New owners whether they are American, Arab or Russian are all convinced that if they spend they will win. But it's not true.

"A football team is built brick by brick, one area of the team at a time, developing the locker room. It's not just money that makes you win."

But the Italian said he still had great affection for the Stamford Bridge club and was delighted to return in the Champions League.

Ranieri is a 'gentleman coach' says Hiddink

"When the draw took place I got a good feeling," he said. "You don't forget four years, they were four beautiful years.

"But now I am focused on the game and that's what it's all about."

And responding to Lampard's glowing praise, Ranieri said: "All coaches aim to see young players and spot their potential and risk playing them and they are proud when they are successful.

"They are important at the beginning but after that the players do the job themselves."

Turkish plane crash in Amsterdam

A Turkish Airlines plane has crashed on landing at Amsterdam's Schiphol international airport, killing nine people and injuring 84, six critically.

The plane, carrying 128 passengers and seven crew, crashed short of the runway near the A9 highway. It broke into three pieces, but did not catch fire.

Three of those killed are crew members. Their bodies have been left in the cockpit while investigations continue.

Officials said it was unclear why the plane, en route from Istanbul, crashed.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft came down at 1031 local time (0931 GMT), several hundred yards (metres) short of the runway. It had left Istanbul's Ataturk Airport at 0622 GMT.

SCHIPHOL ACCIDENTS 27 October 2005: A fire at the airport's detention centre killed 11 people and injured 15 4 April 1994: Three people were killed and 13 seriously injured when a KLM flight carrying 24 people crashed on landing 4 October 1992: An El Al Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed into an apartment block after takeoff, killing 43 people In pictures: Schiphol plane crash Turkish plane crash: witnesses

Investigators are said to have found the data recorders from the plane.

Emergency services spokeswoman Ineke van der Zande told a news conference that six people were in a critical condition and 25 were severely wounded.

Another 24 passengers had suffered light injuries, she said, with the injuries of another 31 still to be determined.

She said 84 people altogether had been taken using 60 ambulances to 11 hospitals in the surrounding area.

Michel Bezuijen, mayor of the Haarlemmermeer municipality under which Schiphol airport falls, said the passenger list was being studied to establish the nationalities of those on board.

"As far as I know there are no more passengers in the plane," he said. "We cannot say anything about the cause at the moment. The priority... is providing help and care."

Earlier, Candan Karlitekin, head of Turkish Airlines' board of directors, told reporters in Turkey the plane had been properly maintained.

"We have checked the plane's documents and there is no problem concerning maintenance," he is quoted as saying by AP.

Turkish Transport Minister Binali Yildirim said it had been "a miracle" that there were not more casualties, AP reports.

"The fact that the plane landed on a soft surface and that there was no fire helped keep the number of fatalities low," he said.

One passenger aboard the plane, Kerem Uzel, told Turkish news channel NTV that the plane's landing had been announced when they were at an altitude of 600m (2,000ft).

"We suddenly descended a great distance as if the plane fell into turbulence. The plane's tail hit the ground... It slid from the side of the motorway into the field."

White sheets

Television footage from the scene showed rescue workers laying out white sheets on what appeared to be bodies.

How the Schiphol crash happened

Relatives of passengers who were waiting at the airport have been taken to a sports hall at a nearby village.

Airport spokeswoman Mirjam Snoerwang said Turkish Airlines had organised a special flight to Schiphol, due to arrive at 1710 GMT, for family members of those on the plane which crashed.

Tomas Friedhoff, a student who was cycling past the scene, told BBC News he had seen the plane appearing to glide through the air, having lost all propulsion, before hitting the ground.

"The plane was nose up and the tail section was at a 45-degree angle. The tail section broke down first, which broke off," he said.

"And seconds after the crash people started exiting through the tail section...

"I saw dozens of people making it out very quickly, and as I was about to dial 911 the first sirens were noticeable, and within five minutes there were 10 or 15 ambulances."

Telecom worker Nikolai van der Smagt, who was driving past the airport moments after the crash, told BBC News he saw the plane lying in three pieces in a field just 60m from the A9 motorway.

He said: "The first people were just getting off the plane and they looked confused. There was a lot of dust, but no fire."

All flights were suspended, but the airport has since re-opened. The A9 motorway remains closed.

The last crash involving a Turkish Airlines plane was in 2003, when at least 65 people died in an accident in eastern Turkey.

Schiphol airport has six runways and one major passenger terminal. In 2007, it handled 47 million passengers, ranking fifth in Europe.

BBC

Hudson pilot urges safety funding

The pilot of a plane that ditched into the Hudson River in New York has called on US airlines to invest more in recruiting and training pilots.

Capt Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger told Congress his pay had been cut by 40% in recent years, and the industry might not attract the "best and brightest".

"The single most important piece of safety equipment is an experienced, well-trained pilot," he said.

He was hailed as a hero after January's landing, which all on board survived.

At the hearing, an air traffic controller recalled the captain telling him he would land in the river, and thinking this was a "death sentence".

Controller Patrick Harten said it felt like hours before he heard of the plane's "heroic landing".

'Economic tsunami'

Earlier, Capt Sullenberger told the House aviation subcommittee that he was "deeply troubled" about the future of the airline industry.

He said pay cuts had placed "pilots and their families in an untenable financial situation", and that this was deterring potential recruits.

Companies should refocus on the recruitment and retention of well-trained pilots, and this should be "at least equal to their financial bottom lines", he said.

Capt Sullenberger said the airline industry had been facing severe economic challenges for the last eight years.

"We've been hit by an economic tsunami: September 11th, bankruptcies, fluctuating fuel prices, mergers, loss of pensions and revolving door management teams," he said.

He added that his decision to stay in the airline industry had come at "a great financial cost to me and my family", with his pay cut and pension downgraded.

Arsenal 1-0 Roma

A first-half penalty from Robin van Persie gave Arsenal a narrow lead going into the away leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Roma.

Arsenal were the better team over the 90 minutes, taking a deserved lead when Van Persie was fouled by Philippe Mexes and then fired in low from the spot.

Fellow striker Nicklas Bendtner struck over from eight yards, while Emmanuel Eboue sent his shot inches wide.

Marco Motta went close for Roma but his 25-yarder was saved by Manuel Almunia.

Apart from that and a John Arne Riise shot that fizzed past the Arsenal upright, the team from Italy's capital did little to excite their band of supporters at the Emirates Stadium.

606: DEBATE Who will win the tie?

Arsene Wenger's side dominated for large periods, created many chances and should have added a couple more to Van Persie's solitary effort. Nevertheless, it was a vast improvement on Arsenal displays of recent weeks.

The key to their success on the night came in the form of the trio in attack - Bendtner, Samir Nasri and Van Persie.

None of the three occupied the conventional positions up front which confused Roma's backline from the whistle.

Bendtner largely played on the left but that did not stop him from bulldozing into the area whenever he saw the defensive door left ajar.

His forays almost paid big dividends on a handful of occasions.

The lanky Dane's first effort suffered as a result of mis-control from Nasri's fine ball into the area, a good block inside the six-yard area then denied him a second bite before he smashed wildly over the bar from eight yards after the break.

One man who was more proficient in front of goal, when it mattered, was Van Persie.

The Dutchman's penalty strike came just before the interval, won when he was tripped by Mexes after being played into the area.

Van Persie's low, driven spot-kick gave Doni no hope in the Roma goal.

Arsenal had numerous chances to extend their lead in the second half.

Apart from Bendtner's wasted effort, Abou Diaby had a wonderful low strike tipped around the post by the agile Doni before Eboue flashed wide after pouncing on a mistake by Simone Loria.

Roma, who have only won one of their previous 15 games away to English sides, were a better proposition in the second half but provided little threat in attack, with Francesco Totti and Julio Baptista disappointing.

Wenger brought on Mexican left-sided forward Carlos Vela and Welsh youngster Aaron Ramsey in the hope that they could give his side a little bit more to play with at the Stadio Olimpico, but it remained at 1-0 with the promise of a nail-biting second leg.

---

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Ramsey 82), Denilson, Diaby (Song Billong 62), Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner (Vela 67).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Merida.

Booked: Toure, Nasri.

Goals: Van Persie 37 pen.

Roma: Doni, Motta, Mexes, Loria (Diamoutene 71), Riise, Perrotta, De Rossi, Brighi (Pizarro 56), Taddei, Julio Baptista (Vucinic 82), Totti.
Subs Not Used: Artur, Ribeiro, Tonetto, Montella.

Booked: Mexes, Brighi, De Rossi.

Att: 60,003

Ref: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark).

Inter Milan 0-0 Man Utd

Manchester United dominated for much of this lively Champions League last-16 clash but had to settle for a goalless draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro.

A Cristiano Ronaldo bullet header was well saved after four minutes and Ryan Giggs then missed when clean through.

Inter were much-improved in the second half as Zlatan Ibrahimovic burst to life, and after dummying for Adriano the Brazilian shot tamely wide.

A new-look United defence stood strong as Inter pushed for a late winner.

Old adversaries Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho started the week by trading friendly jibes, with the United boss disputing claims his side would play defensively, emphasising the importance of away goals.

With Nemanja Vidic suspended, and Gary Neville and Wes Brown injured, Ferguson's hopes of improving on a measly record of one win in 12 games against Mourinho rose slightly with Jonny Evans and John O'Shea declared fit an hour before kick-off.

But the Inter boss, without Patrick Vieira, Marco Materazzi and Walter Samuel, might have felt vindicated on hearing that his opponents were leaving Wayne Rooney on the bench with Dimitar Berbatov playing alone up front.

However, if either team was guilty of playing cagey football it was Mourinho's side, who were off the pace for much of the first half.

606: DEBATE We knew this was going to be a tough tie and if I'm being honest we were always going to need a win in one of the legs if we wanted to progress Dean_Machine89

With Giggs and Michael Carrick dominant in the middle in the opening exchanges it was the visitors who settled the quickest, with Ronaldo in the thick of the action.

The Portuguese winger had already gone close with a free-kick, and after four minutes his rocket header from a Giggs corner was brilliantly saved by the left arm of Julio Cesar.

While Inter's attackers were struggling to make friends with the ball, their defenders were faring little better and were lucky to get away with a Giggs through-ball to Berbatov, who failed to cross to the unmarked Ji-Sung Park.

A shockingly-timed Nelson Rivas tackle then allowed Giggs to squirm his way though again but the Welshman could only blast the ball at the over-worked keeper.

The home support became increasingly agitated as the sea of red piled forward, with Ronaldo just inches away from opening the scoring with yet another free-kick. He then headed just wide.

Ibrahimovic, misfiring until the 40th minute, pulled the ball back for Adriano but Edwin van der Sar sniffed out the danger. The Inter bench even got in on the action just before the interval as reserve keeper Francesco Toldo was booked for dissent.

The Inter manager was the first to change tactics, the Colombian Rivaz making way for Ivan Cordoba, and it seemed to rouse his team.

Esteban Cambiasso crossed from the left and, after an Ibrahimovic dummy, Adriano's shot flew high and wide.

The Brazilian was soon shouting for a penalty but his theatrics that followed a Rio Ferdinand hand on his shoulder did not fool the referee.

Wayne Rooney clashes with Esteban Cambiasso in the final few minutes

The Italians were much better and more composed in the second half with the menacing Cambiasso pushing the United defence regularly onto the back-foot.

Mario Balotelli and Julio Cruz were thrown on for Inter, but the Old Trafford side were not content to sit back with Ronaldo pulling back for Park, whose sliding legs just avoided the ball.

Giggs, once again on imperious form, went on a dazzling run, only to be thwarted by a lunging blocked tackle by Cordoba on the penalty spot and then Rooney, on as substitute with five minutes left, was denied by the legs of Cesar.

After Cordoba had brought Ronaldo down on the edge of the box in injury time and the Portugal star strolled up to take the free-kick, you sensed the headlines may be his.

But the ball flew safely within range of the impressive Cesar and so Old Trafford awaits for battle to recommence in a fortnight.

Although United cannot celebrate an away goal, they can take pride in increasing their unbeaten Champions League run to 20 matches and breaking the record they shared with Ajax and Bayern Munich.

---

Inter Milan: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Rivas (Cordoba 46), Chivu, Santon, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Muntari (Cruz 76), Stankovic, Ibrahimovic, Adriano (Balotelli 77).

Subs Not Used: Toldo, Maxwell, Figo, Burdisso.

Booked: Toldo, Chivu, Maicon, Cordoba.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Giggs, Park (Rooney 83), Berbatov, Ronaldo.

Subs Not Used: Foster, Nani, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Gibson, Tevez.

Booked: Fletcher, Rooney.

Att: 84,000

Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).

---

BBC Sport Player Rater men of the match: Inter Milan's Julio Ceasr on 7.86 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

Nazi row bishop leaves Argentina

A British Catholic bishop embroiled in a row over Holocaust denial has flown out of Argentina days after being told to leave the country.

Richard Williamson was asked to leave Argentina, where he had been living, after he refused to retract his denial of the existence of Nazi gas chambers.

The row hugely embarrassed the Vatican which had only recently lifted an excommunication order on the bishop.

He took a British Airways plane bound for London from Buenos Aires.

Wearing dark glasses and a cap, Bishop Williamson was swiftly moved through the Argentine capital's Ezeiza airport, accompanied by two men.

Local TV showed the bishop raising a clenched fist to a reporter's face, then pushing him into a pole with his shoulder as he moved past, the Associated Press news agency said.

As the bishop hurried off, the two men accompanying him held the journalist back, AP said.

Last Thursday he was given 10 days to leave by the government for having "deeply shocked Argentine society, the Jewish people and all of humanity".

Earlier, he had been removed from his post as head of a Roman Catholic seminary near Buenos Aires.

'No gas chambers'

The row erupted in January after Pope Benedict decided to lift Bishop Williamson's excommunication on an unrelated matter.

Bishop Williamson at Buenos Aires international airport

After that move, it emerged that the bishop had denied the full extent of the Nazi genocide of the Jews in an interview for Swedish TV.

"I believe there were no gas chambers," he had said.

"I think that two to three hundred thousand Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps but none of them by gas chambers."

The Vatican later said the Pope had been unaware of Bishop Williamson's views and had ordered him to recant.

Pope Benedict met American Jewish leaders at the Vatican in a display of solidarity with victims of the Nazis.

The decision to lift the excommunication order was related to the appointment of Richard Williamson as bishop by a breakaway archbishop more than 20 years ago.

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who died in 1991, had rebelled against liberal reforms in the Church, such as the ending of the Latin Mass.

Atletico Madrid 2-2 FC Porto

Lisandro Lopez spared FC Porto keeper Helton's blushes by bundling in a leveller to earn a draw at Atletico.

Atletico took the lead when Sergio Aguero's pass was hammered in by Maxi Rodriguez, before Lisandro had a goal wrongly disallowed by the referee.

He fired in to level soon after, but Atletico went ahead again when Diego Forlan's speculative 25-yard shot somehow went straight through Helton.

But after blazing another chance over, Lisandro tapped in to earn a draw.

---

Atletico Madrid: Franco, Seitaridis, Pablo, Ujfalusi, Antonio Lopez, Maxi (Miguel 80), Paulo Assuncao, Raul Garcia (Maniche 67), Simao, Forlan, Aguero (Sinama Pongolle 56).
Subs Not Used: Coupet, Pernia, Heitinga, Camacho.

Booked: Raul Garcia, Paulo Assuncao.

Goals: Maxi 4, Forlan 45.

FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru (Pedro Emanuel 79), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Lucho Gonzalez, Fernando, Raul Meireles (Costa 90), Lopez (Sektioui 90), Hulk, Rodriguez.
Subs Not Used: Nuno, Stepanov, Mariano Gonzalez, Farias.

Booked: Sapunaru, Lopez.

Goals: Lopez 22, 72.

Att: 54,000.

Ref: Howard Webb (England).
BBC

Japan exports drop 45% to new low

Japan's exports plunged more than 45% in January compared to a year ago to hit the lowest figure ever recorded, official figures showed.

Japan also had a trade deficit of 952.6 bn yen ($9.9bn; £6.8bn), the lowest figure since records began in 1979.

The demand for Japanese cars in particular dropped by 69%.

Demand for electronics and other goods has also slumped as global economies and consumer spending contract, pushing Japan deeper into recession.

Serious crisis

Japanese exports to the US, which is at the centre of the slide, fell nearly 53% in January while shipments to the European Union retracted by 47%, Japan's finance ministry said.

Japan's export-led economy had previously been thought to be immune to the worst effects of the global recession, the AFP news agency reported.

The government said last week that Japan's economy was in its most serious crisis since World War II, after it contracted annualised rate of 12.7% in the last quarter of 2008.

This was its worst performance in almost 35 years, officials said.

In response the government is pushing bills through parliament to implement a stimulus plan, including a cash handout of at least 130 dollars per Japanese taxpayer, the BBC's Roland Buerk reports from Tokyo.

But any bold moves may be difficult to push through because of the unpopularity of Prime Minister Taro Aso, our correspondent says.

US President Barack Obama and Mr Aso have agreed to work together to stimulate economic demand and fight protectionism as the latter visits the US.

The US and Japanese economies are respectively the world's largest and second-largest.

Determined Obama vows to renew US

US President Barack Obama has addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time, warning that the nation faces a "day of reckoning".

Stressing the severity of the economic crisis, Mr Obama told lawmakers the US would emerge stronger when it ended.

"We will rebuild, we will recover," Mr Obama said, adding: "Now is the time to act boldly and wisely."

Republicans said Mr Obama's plans were "wasteful", saying they spent "money we do not have on things we do not need".

Mr Obama has seen Congress pass a $787bn (£545bn) economic stimulus plan and is preparing to announce a budget.

Delivering a televised rebuttal shortly after Mr Obama spoke, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said Republicans opposed the view that the way to strengthen the country was to strengthen government.

In his speech to the joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate, Mr Obama emphasised that his hard-fought stimulus bill - which includes efforts to save or create 3.5m jobs - will help restore growth.

Only one slightly off note - Nancy Pelosi. She looks too pleased with herself, too pleased with him. She does him no favours Justin Webb BBC North America Editor Read Justin Webb's blog

An era of extravagant spending must end, the president told Congress.

Outlining what he saw as the roots of the economic crisis, Mr Obama told congressmen that short-term gains had been prized over long-term prosperity.

"And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day," he said.

"Well, that day of reckoning has arrived, and the time to take charge of our future is here."

Domestic goals

He praised Congress for passing the economic stimulus plan, which he said would create millions of jobs and revitalise the US, and deliver a tax cut to 95% of Americans by 1 April.

Obama: 'We will recover'

The package, signed after compromises debated in both houses, was designed to channel federal money toward infrastructure projects, health care, renewable energy development and conservation programmes.

The first month of Mr Obama's presidency has also included a banking bail-out worth at least $1.5 trillion (£1.02 trillion) and a plan to support "responsible homeowners" struggling with mortgages.

He won a standing ovation when he told his audience that banks and bankers taking public money would be fully accountable, vowing that tax dollars would not be frittered away.

This is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what is necessary and move this country forward Barack Obama US President Full text: Obama's speech Send us your reaction

"Those days are over," Mr Obama said. "It's not about helping banks, it's about helping people."

The speech came days before the unveiling of the administration's first budget, with sights set on reducing the giant US deficit, currently standing at about $1 trillion.

Mr Obama said the vast deficit and the "crushing cost" of healthcare made the need for wide-ranging reform more urgent than ever, and he pledged to reform and improve the nation's schooling and boost the numbers of students in higher education.

He restated a pledge made on Monday to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term, and said officials had begun to go "line by line" through the federal budget "to eliminate wasteful and ineffective" schemes.

Foreign fields

The BBC's Kevin Connolly in Washington says Barack Obama delivered a powerful address, offering more hope than in recent major speeches.

The address looks and feels like the State of the Union speech which normally come at about this point in the political calendar.

But because Mr Obama is new to office, and therefore not in a position to take responsibility for the triumphs and disasters of 2008, this was billed simply as an address to the joint houses, our correspondent adds.

While much of his speech focused on domestic issues, Mr Obama also touched on the key foreign policy issues facing his administration.

A wounded and worried America will hope for re-assurance and inspiration. Kevin Connolly BBC News Will Obama feed hunger for hope? US and Japan in economy pledge

Reviews of US involvement in both Iraq and Afghanistan were currently ongoing, the president said, and would soon deliver their results.

He promised a "new and comprehensive strategy" for Afghanistan and Pakistan aimed at defeating al-Qaeda and defeating extremism.

And while he paid tribute to US troops serving overseas, there was no detailed reference to plans for Iraq, or any reference to Iran, whose nuclear programme is viewed by many analysts as a major foreign policy challenge for the new president.

The speech came as some of the first polls analysing Mr Obama's level of public support indicated that voters still strongly back the man they chose for office fewer than four months ago.

A New York Times/CBS News poll published ahead of his speech put the president's approval rating at 63%, with a Washington Post/ABC News survey showing 68% support.

The presidential address - which began late and lasted a little over 45 minutes - was followed by a response from Republican Bobby Jindal.

The 37-year-old governor of Louisiana - the first Indian-American to occupy such a post - is one of the Republican Party's rising stars, and is tipped as a likely contender for the White House four years from now.

He was highly critical of Mr Obama's plans, dismissing the stimulus plan and banking bail-out as Washington waste.

"The way to lead is not to raise taxes and put more money and power in hands of Washington politicians," he said.

Woods fit and ready for comeback

Tiger Woods said he feels fitter than ever ahead of this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

The 14-time major winner has been out for eight months after reconstructive surgery on the knee.

"I didn't think it would feel this good, I have not known what it is like to feel this way before, so healthy, solid and secure," he said.

"I am doing the same things I have always been trying to do but now I have got a leg I can do it on."

The tournament, which begins on Wednesday, will be Woods' first since winning the US Open at Torrey Pines last June.

The 33-year-old ended his 2008 campaign after revealing he had played with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and a double stress fracture of the tibia below it.

But Woods has been back practising at full power in Arizona and said the signs are looking good.

"The strength in both legs feels a lot stronger than it has ever been with stability I have not had in years.

"Basically practise went really well, I felt really good to be back in a competitive environment."

Somebody said Tiger's announced he's coming back and I got a few chills up the back of my neck Brendan Jones

Woods will face Australian Brendan Jones in the first round on Wednesday, and the world number one will be wary as he has lost to Australians three times in this tournament.

Peter O'Malley beat woods in the first round in 2002 and Nick O'Hern got the better of him in the second and third rounds in 2005 and in 2007.

World number 64 Jones hopes that he can continue the trend.

"It's a chance of a lifetime," said the Australian. "I'm very, very excited," said Jones.

"It is one of the most anticipated comebacks in any sport and to have a front row seat is a great honour.

"Tiger came out and said that he was going to play and I was overjoyed. It's the chance to play probably the best player of my generation.

IAIN CARTER BLOG His return is a timely boost to the credit-crunched game

"My friends have all said, 'you can beat him, you can beat him. It's a different format, matchplay's a funny game, anything can happen."

Jones, 33, has spent much of his career in Japan, where he has won eight titles - most recently the Tsuruya Open in April 2007.

His only season on the USPGA Tour was 2005, when he finished 144th on the money list.

With his Japanese schedule not due to start until April, Jones said he had not even been practising in the run-up to the Match Play.

"Obviously, I know I'm a longshot. I have got nothing to lose. I can just go out, be a lot more aggressive than what I normally would be. And if you say what are my chances, I have some sort of chance," he said.

"I didn't fly all this way to try to lose. I'm here to try to beat him."

BBC

Obama appoints stimulus overseers

US President Barack Obama has put Vice President Joe Biden in charge of overseeing the implementation of his $787bn (£540bn) economic stimulus plan.

He has appointed former secret service agent Earl Devaney to oversee how the money is spent; he is now inspector general of the Interior Department.

Mr Devaney's job will be to ensure that the stimulus funds are not wasted.

The president said that $15bn would be released on Wednesday to help states pay their healthcare bills.

Some states have been struggling to pay for their Medicaid programmes, which provide healthcare for people on low incomes.

"By the time most of you get home, money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their healthcare coverage," the president said.

Speaking to a gathering of state governors, he warned that if they wasted any of the stimulus funds, he would "call them out on it".

Mr Devaney's new job will be as chairman of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board.

"He looks like an inspector, he's tough, you know he barely cracks a smile," the president said.

Freed detainee arrives back in UK

A British resident detained at Guantanamo Bay for more than four years has arrived back in the UK.

Ethiopian-born Binyam Mohamed, 30, landed at RAF Northolt in London on Monday afternoon, accompanied by Metropolitan Police officers.

Mr Mohamed says he was tortured while in custody on suspicion of terrorism.

He said in a statement the worst moment of his captivity was when he realised his alleged torturers were receiving material from UK intelligence agents.

I am not asking for vengeance; only that the truth should be made known so that nobody in the future should have to endure what I have endured Binyam Mohamed Profile: Binyam Mohamed Reaction to detainee's return Guantanamo Britons at a glance

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said his release was the first step towards the goal of closing down the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

He landed at 1300 GMT and walked to the terminal building surrounded by officials.

UK Border Agency officials are interviewing him about his resident status and he will have to apply for leave to enter the UK.

The Home Office said he would be given temporary admission until a decision is made.

Mr Mohamed said in a statement: "I have to say, more in sadness than in anger, that many have been complicit in my own horrors over the past seven years.

"For myself, the very worst moment came when I realised in Morocco that the people who were torturing me were receiving questions and materials from British intelligence."

'Torture chambers'

He had been accompanied by a doctor during his flight and said he was neither physically nor mentally capable of facing the media on the moment of his arrival back to Britain.

"I have been through an experience that I never thought to encounter in my darkest nightmares," he said.

"Before this ordeal, torture was an abstract word to me. I could never have imagined that I would be its victim.

"It is still difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways - all orchestrated by the United States government.

"While I want to recover, and put it all as far in the past as I can, I also know I have an obligation to the people who still remain in those torture chambers.

"My own despair was greatest when I thought that everyone had abandoned me. I have a duty to make sure that nobody else is forgotten."

Referring to his alleged period of torture in Morocco, Mr Mohamed said: "I have met with British intelligence in Pakistan. I had been open with them. Yet the very people who I had hoped would come to my rescue, I later realised, had allied themselves with my abusers."

He went on: "I am not asking for vengeance; only that the truth should be made known so that nobody in the future should have to endure what I have endured."

A Foreign Office spokesman said allegations British officials were complicit in his alleged torture were currently being examined by the Attorney General.

He also stressed the allegations were raised with the US authorities a year ago. "Discussions were the US authorities are ongoing," he added.

'Hard work'

Mr Miliband said he was pleased Mr Mohamed was returning.

"His release and return from Guantanamo Bay is the result of a number of years of very hard work by officials with him and with his team," he said.

"Obviously, the release of Binyam Mohamed is the first release from Guantanamo Bay since the election of President Obama.

"We very much welcome President Obama's commitment to close Guantanamo Bay and I see today's return of Binyam Mohamed as the first step towards that shared goal."

Lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith reads a statement on Binyam Mohamed's behalf

Mr Mohamed's brother, Dr Benhur Mohamed said: "I'm very happy about his release. I am so excited today, it is the best day of my life.

"What happened under the US, it's very disheartening to know that the British actually had something to do with this suffering."

The Met Police said Mr Mohamed had been detained at RAF Northolt under border regulations, but had not been arrested.

Clive Stafford Smith, director of legal charity Reprieve which represented Mr Mohamed, said: "He is a victim who has suffered more than any human being should ever suffer.

Public safety

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown refused to discuss the details of any restrictions on Mr Mohamed, but said: "We will do everything in our power to protect the security of people in our country and the home secretary will take whatever action is necessary."

The US had accused Mr Mohamed of involvement in a plot to detonate a "dirty bomb" in America, but the charges were dropped in October last year.

The US Department of Justice said in a statement on Monday that his release was "consistent with the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice".

"The friendship and assistance of the international community is vitally important as we work to close Guantanamo, and we greatly appreciate the efforts of the British government to work with us on the transfer of Binyam Mohamed," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

Some 250 inmates remain at the US camp in Guantanamo

Mr Mohamed had lived in the UK from the age of 15, before being arrested in Pakistan in 2002.

Earlier this year he went on a month-long hunger strike at Guantanamo and his legal team said he was "close to starvation".

But last weekend he was declared well enough to travel back to the UK by a team of British officials who had visited him.

His lawyers insist he poses no risk to the UK.

One other UK resident, Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, remains in Guantanamo Bay after being detained in Afghanistan in 2001.

Two other Guantanamo inmates claim to have been living in the UK prior to their detention, but those claims are disputed.

Murray edges through Dubai opener

Britain's Andy Murray reached round two of the Dubai Championships with victory over Sergiy Stakhovsky, but looked to be struggling with an ankle injury.

Murray took control after an uneven start, recovering from a set and a break down to lead 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 5-3 when his opponent called it quits.

Both men struggled with ankle injuries - Murray missed Marseille last week because of the problem.

The Scot will face Arnaud Clement or Rainer Schuettler in the second round.

Murray is the second seed in Dubai behind Novak Djokovic, following the withdrawal through injuries of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

606: DEBATE This guy should have finished the match. Just two points to go, but he wanted to go off retired, rather than beaten ProfCapelo

Having beaten Stakhovsky in both their previous meetings on the ATP Tour, as well as in the 2004 US Open junior final, Murray was a strong favourite for their first-round clash.

A swift victory looked on the cards when the Scot led 3-1 and 15-40 but he failed to convert, despite Stakhovsky needing his ankle taped by the trainer, and found himself in a tie-break unnecessarily.

An annoying lapse became slightly more serious when Stakhovsky took it, thanks in part to a fabulous half-volley and a Murray double fault, and the Ukrainian got an early break in the second set.

Finally, Murray gathered himself and found some first serves to reel off four games in a row and serve out the set.

By now it was Murray who was grimacing in pain because of an ankle injury, but he did not call for the trainer and managed to break to love at the start of the decider.

It proved to be enough for the world number four, and he noticeably protected his ankle from any unnecessary stress as he concentrated on winning his service games.

Murray did a good job of consolidating his lead but was denied the satisfaction of sealing the win when Stakhovsky, rather strangely, felt he could not continue when just two points from defeat.
BBC

Oscar joy for Slumdog Millionaire

Hit British film Slumdog Millionaire has won the top prize at the Academy Awards, winning eight Oscars including best director and best picture.

In a great night for Britain, Kate Winslet won the best actress Oscar for The Reader, finally clinching the award on her sixth nomination.

The big surprise of the night was Sean Penn, winning best actor for his role as gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for supporting actor for The Dark Knight.

The actor's family received the award on behalf of Ledger, who died in January 2008.

"We have been truly overwhelmed by the honour and respect being bestowed upon him with this award," his mother said.

Ledger becomes the second performer to win a posthumous Oscar, following Peter Finch's win for Network in 1977.

Heath Ledger won acclaim for scene-stealing performance as The Joker

But the night belonged to Slumdog Millionaire, the rags-to-riches tale that has enchanted audiences around the world.

Director Danny Boyle, 52, bounced up and down in delight as he received his award, telling the audience: "I swore [to my children] if this miracle ever happened I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger."

Optimism

The film, set in the slums of Mumbai (Bombay), won eight awards in total, including gongs for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best song.

"There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here," joked British screenwriter Simon Beaufoy, previously best known for writing The Full Monty.

Winslet was presented her Oscar by five previous best actress winners

Indian composer AR Rahman, who received two Oscars - for best song and best score - praised the city which inspired the book, and subsequently the film.

He hailed "all the people from Mumbai and the essence of the film, which is about optimism and the power of hope and our lives".

As anticipated - after years of waiting in the wings - Winslet, 33, won her Academy Award for playing a Nazi prison officer in The Reader.

"I'd be lying if I hadn't made a version of this speech. I think I was probably eight years old and staring into a mirror," she said.

She thanked her husband, Revolutionary Road director Sam Mendes, and her children, for "letting me do what I love and who love me just the way that I am".

Equal rights

In a night of predictable outcomes, Sean Penn's best actor triumph for his portrayal of gay rights activist Harvey Milk seemed to win the A-list audience's approval.

"You Commie, homo-loving, sons of a gun," said Penn, addressing his fellow performers.

"I did not expect this, and I want to be very clear that I know how hard I make it to appreciate me," said the 48-year-old, who often attracts criticism for his outspoken views.

Sean Penn was named best actor for his role in Mystic River in 2004

In an impassioned plea - and to rapturous applause - Penn called on "equal rights for everyone".

"I think it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame," he said.

His thoughts were echoed by Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who won best original screenplay for Milk.

"I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope ... that one day I could live my life openly as who I am. And that maybe I could even fall in love and one day get married," he said.

Musical medley

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were eager to breathe new life into this year's ceremony, after a continued decline in TV viewing figures.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman hosted the show, and showed off his musical talents - opening with a medley of songs paying tribute to the best picture nominees.

He went on to join singer Beyonce in a tribute to Hollywood's best-loved musicals.

Cruz was previously nominated for Volver in 2007

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz became the first winner of the night, picking up the best supporting actress award.

The 34-year-old star won her first Oscar for her performance as a passionate artist in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

"Has anybody ever fainted here. I might be the first one," said Cruz, who was previously nominated in 2007.

Cruz, who becomes the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar, dedicated her award "to all the actors from my country".

"Thank you Woody for trusting me with this beautiful character," she said.

Roddick wins second Memphis title

Andy Roddick secured his second Memphis Championship title after beating Radek Stepanek in straight sets.

Top seed Roddick, 26, triumphed 7-5 7-5 against the Czech fifth seed, with the American breaking the Czech twice in the first set to seize the initiative.

Stepanek had three break chances in the second set, but Roddick pulled through each time, before taking the Czech's final service game to win the final.

Prior to Sunday, Stepanek, 30, had not lost a set at Memphis this week.

The win for Roddick, who lost to Stepanek in the semi-finals of the San Jose Open last week, ended his opponent's bid for back-to-back title wins, as the American clinched his 27th career title.

It was Roddick's fourth final at Memphis, where he was champion in 2002 and runner-up in 2003 and 2007.

In South America, Spain's Tommy Robredo won his second successive tournament when he beat Argentina's Juan Monaco 7-5 2-6 7-6 in the final of the Buenos Aires Open.

"I am very happy for having won back-to-back titles for the first time in my career," said the world number 17.

"I trained hard to be able to play well in consecutive weeks."

Meanwhile world number 66 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain captured her first career WTA Tour title with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Argentina's Gisela Dulko in the final of the Bogota clay court event.

Everton sweat over Arteta injury

Everton are anxiously awaiting news of a scan on Mikel Arteta's injured knee after the midfielder was stretchered off against Newcastle on Sunday.

The 26-year-old squirmed in pain after landing awkwardly in the early stages of the 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

He has returned to Liverpool to undergo a scan for suspected ligament damage.

"The early look at him wasn't good, but I'd rather wait to see," said Everton boss David Moyes, who also is worried over Victor Anichebe's fitness.

Kevin Nolan was sent off just before half time for an awful two-footed tackle on Anichebe.

"We certainly have a sore boy in Anichebe," Moyes.

The loss of Arteta would be a huge blow to Everton as they continue to chase a European spot.

The early look at him wasn't good, but I'd rather wait to see David Moyes

The Spaniard has been in inspirational form of late, scoring in the Toffees last two games prior to the goalless draw with Newcastle.

His absence was keenly felt once he left the field at St James' Park.

"We played for nearly an hour against 10 men and created hardly and chances," said Moyes.

"A draw's not a bad result, but I think in the circumstances we're disappointed not to take all three and bitterly disappointed because of the injury to Mikel."

606: DEBATE Today feels like a defeat but worse now we have lost out little Spaniard, our most creative midfielder Fellaini4EFC09

On the topic of Nolan's dismissal Moyes said: "It was a sending off, there's no doubt about that.

"I don't think Kevin Nolan's that type of player but it was a bad tackle and it was definitely a sending off.

Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton was pleased with his side's efforts in limiting Everton to so few chances and spoke of Nolan's regret at the tackle for which he saw red.

"For us I think to go down to 10 men at the time that we did, to come through the 90 minutes with Everton having limited good opportunities at our goal is testament to our lads," he said.

"Kevin has apologised to David (Moyes) and to the lad in their team (Anichebe).

"He's an honest professional. We accept it wasn't the best of challenges but my first impression was that it was poorly timed, not malicious."

Benitez hangs on to title hopes

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to concede the Premier League title after his side were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Manchester City.

But Benitez cut a despondent figure after a game that left the Reds seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who they play on 14 March.

"It's not easy but the main thing for me is to win our games and at Old Trafford we have to win," he said.

"When you are playing catch up you have to win so we are disappointed."

Liverpool went behind to a goal from their former striker Craig Bellamy before Dirk Kuyt rescued a point with a late strike.

The Reds belatedly pressed for a winner but it failed to arrive and they have a big gap to make up with just 12 league games to go.

606: DEBATE Are Liverpool still genuine title contenders?

"I have confidence that we can still win it, but we must win our next two league games against Middlesbrough and Sunderland and then win against Manchester United at Old Trafford," said Benitez.

"Then we may have a different situation. But I just accept that this has been a bad result and it clearly makes it more difficult for us to win the title.

"We have to win our games and see where that takes us. And clearly Manchester United are playing well and winning games."

City manager Mark Hughes did not hold out much hope for Liverpool overhauling his former club Manchester United's title lead.

"It is not over, there are still a lot of games left," he said.

We put in an excellent performance, we were strong and resilient Man City boss Mark Hughes

"But it depends on Manchester United slipping up and they don't do that very often.

"It is very much in their hands and they will have to lose three games now."

City played in the Uefa Cup on Thursday and Hughes praised the way his players performed in their second game four days.

"That was an excellent performance and we were good value for the point and probably deserved more," added Hughes.

"We were playing a side going for the title, and after we had been involved in a tiring Uefa Cup game in Denmark on Thursday.

"But we put in an excellent performance, we were strong and resilient and we deserved the result."
BBC

Beckham features in AC Milan win

AC Milan kept alive their faint hopes of catching city rivals Inter at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win over Cagliari at the San Siro.

Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf exploited a defensive mix-up to tap into an empty net after 65 minutes.

David Beckham played almost the full match after missing most of the midweek draw with Werder Bremen through injury.

The England international delivered another assured display before giving way to Luca Antonini in injury time.

Milan want to sign LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham permanently, but have so far been unable to reach agreement with the Major Soccer League club.

Beckham admitted that it may not be until the conclusion of his loan period on 8 March that the two camps come close to any arrangement that keeps him with the Rossoneri.

"We'll have to wait and see. These things take time sometimes and of course it's going to. It could go down to the last few days," he said.

"I hope it gets sorted out quickly because I enjoy concentrating on my football and I've done that so far and so I'll continue doing that."

Cagliari gave their hosts several uncomfortable moments early on with goalkeeper Christian Abbiati tested by efforts from Robert Aquafresca and Jeda in the first half.

At the other end Filippo Inzaghi had the ball in the net but saw his strike ruled out as he strayed offside in latching onto Seedorf's neat pass.

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Highlights - Inter Milan 2-1 AC Milan

Andrea Cossu shuddered the woodwork of Abbiati's goal after the break with a fierce long-range shot, but the visitors' efforts were undone as Diego Lopez and keeper Federico Marchetti collided in pursuit of a loose ball and Seedorf profited.

The result keeps Milan third in the league, two points behind second-placed Juventus and 11 off Jose Mourinho's Inter.
BBC

Toll climbs in China mine blast

More than 40 miners have died and dozens remain trapped underground after a gas explosion in a coal mine, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reports.

The blast at the mine in Gujiao City, in Shanxi province, occurred before dawn when 436 miners were underground.

Xinhua said 340 miners had managed to escape, but some had died in hospital and others were badly hurt.

China has the world's deadliest mining industry, with 3,200 deaths reported last year.

But the true figure of those killed is believed to be far higher, says the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing, as many accidents go unreported.

Illegal mining, official corruption and weak safety inspections lead to tens of thousands of accidents in Chinese mines each year, our correspondent says.

Rescue operation

Early reports from Xinhua suggested 96 miners were trapped after the explosion at about 0200 (1800 GMT) and that 11 miners had died. It is unclear how many are still trapped.

Rescue workers were reported to be on the scene attempting to rescue the workers from the mine, which is owned by the Shanxi Jiaomei Group.

The group is China's largest producer of coking coal and operates 28 mines, according to the Associated Press news agency.

China has said safety is improving, with officials saying the number of fatalities from coal mining accidents had fallen 15% in 2008 compared with the previous year.

Xinhua also reported that the number of accidents had fallen by 19% to 413,700 last year.

BBC

Obama hails 'fastest' US tax cut

President Barack Obama has said US tax bills will begin to fall from April, hailing a tax cut he called the fastest ever to take effect.

In his weekly radio and internet address, President Obama said the typical American family would gain by at least $65 (£46) a month.

He also pledged to cut America's trillion-dollar deficit.

The tax cuts announced on Saturday are part of a $787bn stimulus plan that Mr Obama signed into law this week.

The plan, aimed at reviving the US economy amid a global economic crisis, is split into 36% for tax cuts and 64% percent allocated for spending on social programmes.

Mr Obama said the US treasury had already begun directing employers to reduce the amount of taxes claimed from pay cheques.

The savings will reach 95% of American families, he said.

"Never before in our history has a tax cut taken effect faster or gone to so many hardworking Americans," the president said.

Challenges ahead

Mr Obama said work must now start on trying to stabilise the banking system, stem the fall in house prices and get budget deficits under control.

We can't borrow and spend our way back to prosperity Republican Dave Camp Obama diary: The first 100 days US Senate approves stimulus plan

He announced that he would call a fiscal summit on Monday to discuss an inherited deficit of $1.3tn.

An unnamed US official was later quoted as saying Mr Obama intended to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term.

This would be done by scaling back on the war in Iraq, increasing taxes on those earning more than $250,000 a year and making government more efficient, the official said.

Mr Obama said he would address the nation about his priorities on Tuesday before issuing a budget on Thursday.

"I'll release a budget that's sober in its assessments, honest in its accounting, and lays out in detail my strategy for investing in what we need, cutting what we don't, and restoring fiscal discipline," he said.

However, he also warned of the challenges ahead.

"As important as it was that I was able to sign this plan into law, it is only a first step on the road to economic recovery.

"None of this will be easy. The road ahead will be long and full of hazards," he added.

"But I am confident that we, as a people, have the strength and wisdom to carry out this strategy and overcome this crisis."

The stimulus plan, which was approved by Congress just over a week ago, aims to save or create 3.5 million jobs, boost consumer spending and rebuild infrastructure.

Over the past week, Mr Obama has also announced measures to assist families facing foreclosures, and those struggling to meet mortgage payments.

But Republicans, only three of whom voted for the stimulus package in Congress despite calls by Mr Obama for bipartisan support, have said the new tax cuts are insufficient.

They have also complained that the president's spending plans will leave the US economy saddled with debt for years to come.

"We can't borrow and spend our way back to prosperity," Republican Dave Camp said in his party's weekly address.

"If he [Mr Obama] is serious about dealing with the tough issues and getting spending under control, his budget will show it."

BBC

Australia mourns bushfire victims

Australia is observing a day of mourning for the victims of bushfires which swept across the state of Victoria, claiming more than 200 lives.

At a memorial service in the state's capital, Melbourne, PM Kevin Rudd said destroyed communities would be rebuilt.

Many at the service had to be bussed in from towns and villages stricken by the bushfires, having lost their cars and their homes to the flames.

Firemen continue to battle fresh blazes and some bodies are still to be found.

At least 209 people died as the worst bushfires in Australia's living memory swept through Victoria on 7 February - a day that has become known as Black Saturday.

Australia has launched its biggest-ever arson investigation into the causes of the fires.

One man has already been charged with starting one of the blazes and police suspect arson in at least one other case.

Nation in mourning

The mourning service at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena was attended by Princess Anne, on behalf of the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Australian dignitaries and both fire survivors and rescue personnel.

Let us resolve to rebuild together Australian PM Kevin Rudd In quotes: Memorial service Princess Anne in bushfire tribute

Many of the 50,000 in the arena were wearing the distinctive yellow overalls of Australia's firefighters.

Mr Rudd told those gathered that Australians had stood as one through the crisis with courage, compassion and resilience.

"As a people we weep for the lost, we tend to the injured, we console the suffering, and yet our work has just begun," he said. "Let us resolve to rebuild together."

He said flags would be flown at half mast and a minute's silence would be held each 7 February to remember those who had died in the fires.

Victoria Premier John Brumby said Australians were picking up the pieces after the worst disaster in the nation's history.

"Today we are united in grief, but we are also united in our determination to recover, to rebuild, and we will rebuild," he said.

"And we will remember today and into the future all of those who lost their lives, and who gave so much on Black Saturday."

The national day of mourning began with the ringing of church bells across Victoria.

High temperatures forecast

Princess Anne paid tribute to those caught up in the tragedy.

"Individuals and towns have responded with resilience, ingenuity, courage and selflessness to situations that were changing at terrifying speed," she said.

Australia has drawn on strengths that it already knew it had in abundance - traits that are by no means uniquely Australian, but quintessentially Australian Nick Bryant Read Nick's thoughts in full

"People from around Australia and across the world watched in horror but with admiration at their response."

The 90-minute ceremony included a minute's silence as well as performances by choirs from across Victoria.

Princess Anne is now due to visit the bushfires Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne before travelling on Monday to some of the fire-devastated areas.

The blazes destroyed hundreds of properties and left thousands of people homeless.

Forecasters warn that high temperatures and wind conditions expected on Monday could worsen the situation.

BBC