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American swimming legend Michael Phelps says the London Olympics in 2012 will be his final Games and that he will quit the sport when he turns 30.The most prolific Olympic gold medallist of all time, with 14 to his name, will be 27 in 2012. "I told myself I will not swim over the age of 30 and I will not," he said. Phelps has not specified how many races he will enter in London but hopes his refusal to wear the now banned high-tech suits...

The confirmed death toll from Haiti's devastating earthquake has risen above 150,000 in the Port-au-Prince area alone, a government minister has said.Communications minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue said the count was based on bodies collected in and around the capital by state company CNE. Many more remain uncounted under rubble in the capital and elsewhere, including the towns of Jacmel and Leogane. The search for survivors has...

The US military has begun airdropping food and water supplies into earthquake-hit Haiti.Some 14,000 ready-to-eat meals and 15,000 litres of water were dropped north-east of the capital Port-au-Prince, the US said. It had earlier said airdrops were too risky but congestion at the airport has hampered aid distribution. The US is now considering airdrops across Haiti. More than 2,000 US Marines are set to join 1,000 US troops in Haiti. They...

There are mounting security concerns in Haiti's earthquake-hit capital as distribution problems continue to hamper getting aid to survivors.Days after the quake devastated Port-au-Prince, killing tens of thousands, there are some reports of gangs preying on residents and looting. Officials say thousands of prisoners are unaccounted for after the main prison was destroyed. Relief has been arriving, but little has moved beyond the jammed...

Iranian security forces have clashed with opposition supporters in the city of Isfahan, opposition websites say.Activists said police used tear gas and batons to disperse people gathering to commemorate Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri, who died at the weekend. Security forces reportedly surrounded the home of an ayatollah who organised the memorial service. On Monday, tens of thousands of mourners attended Montazeri's funeral in the...

Iran opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi's car has been fired on in the northern city of Qazvin, his website reports.Mr Karroubi, who was in the city for a religious ceremony, was in the car at the time but was not said to be hurt. The incident happened shortly after he left a house that had been surrounded by what the site called a well-organised group throwing stones. Mr Karroubi was a reformist candidate in June's election, and has protested...

A top US intelligence official has promised action after sharp criticism from President Barack Obama over a failed airliner bomb plot.Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair said the intelligence community had to boost efforts to prevent new types of attacks. Mr Obama had earlier told senior officials that the failure to anticipate the attack was a "screw-up". The alleged bomber is accused of trying to bring down an airliner over...