Chavez sends army to rice plants

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the army to take control of all rice processing plants in the country.

Mr Chavez accused some firms of overcharging by refusing to produce rice at prices set by the government.

He warned that some companies could be nationalised if they tried to interfere with supplies of the grain.

Mr Chavez - who has nationalised large swathes of Venezuela's economy - did not say how long the government intervention would last.

Major rice processors in the country include the US-owned giant Cargill and Venezuela's main food company, Polar.

Last year, Venezuela seized control of plants and offices belonging to Mexican cement giant Cemex.

In 2007, the government said it had taken control of the massive Orinoco Belt oil projects as part of President Chavez's nationalisation drive.

Price squeeze

Announcing the move to send troops to the rice plants in a televised address to the nation on Saturday, Mr Chavez criticised the producers for failing to sell their rice at government prices.

"I have ordered the immediate intervention in all those sectors of agro-industry, intervention by the revolutionary government," he said.

Venezuela has strict price controls on staple foods such as rice and wheat

"This government is here to protect the people, not the bourgeoisie or the rich."

He said that those companies who had threatened to paralyse rice production could be expropriated.

"I will expropriate them, I have no problem with that, and I'll pay them with bonds. Don't count on me paying with hard cash," he said, without mentioning any companies by name.

The agriculture minister later confirmed that the military were in control of at least one major national producer, Primor, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Caracas.

Further interventions are expected in the next 48 hours.

In Venezuela, the government provides basic foodstuffs at low prices in state-run markets known as "mercales".

But many rice, wheat, meat and dairy producers complain that the price regulations leave them without a profit and that many are facing bankruptcy, our correspondent says.

The country's inflation levels are the highest in Latin America and, as a result, there are often shortages of items such as rice and coffee, leading to hoarding and sale on the black market.

With President Chavez recently granted the right to stand for a third term in office, he is keen to ensure the provision of cheap food to the poor is not put in jeopardy, Will Grant adds.

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Fears of anarchy in Madagascar

The recent outbreak of political violence has left the people of Madagascar traumatised, as Christina Corbett discovered.

Andry Rajoelina (L) wants president Marc Ravalomanana (R) removed

The taxi swerved into the middle of the road as my animated driver twisted in his seat to look me in the eye.

"What do I think of what's happening here?" he cried, repeating my question.

It was a question I was now beginning to regret asking, as the tiny Renault 4 narrowly avoided a collision with an ancient lorry, growling through the chaos of Antananarivo's rush hour.

"I think it is madness," he answered glancing, for a brief moment, at the road ahead.

"People want life to return to normal and all these problems are making things more difficult for us."

The taxi skidded to a stop in the torrential rain. I watched it shudder back into the stream of traffic and bought a couple of wet newspapers from a street seller.

A curtain of water poured from the brim of his straw hat. It was not a hat designed to keep a man dry in a storm brought by the tail end of Madagascar's most recent cyclone.

Frog smuggler

It does not always rain in Antananarivo, this country's dramatic capital.

Malagasy politics have spilled onto the streets of Antananarivo - and turned deadly - claiming the lives of more than 100 people since late January

Up on the high plateau the views stretch across vibrant green paddy fields to distant mountains.

Houses tumble down hillsides with a Mediterranean flamboyancy and evening skies bring sunsets of extraordinary beauty.

I used to have time to admire the view. Work was sporadic. Hot days were spent hanging out at the court rooms, just to see if there might be an interesting story to cover.

Like the one about the man who tried to smuggle frogs and lizards out of the country by stuffing them in his coat pockets.

And there was always a spare five minutes to watch the sun slip behind the mountains at the end of the day.

But recently all that has changed. Times here are tense, as Malagasy politics have spilled onto the streets of Antananarivo - and turned deadly - claiming the lives of more than 100 people since late January.

'Rabble rousing'

Madagascar is no stranger to political upheaval. Since the Indian Ocean island gained independence from France in 1960, several bitter power struggles have punctuated the country's history.

The rioting and looting that has come with the latest outbreak has left most people shocked.

And many say no good can come of a popular movement that has disintegrated into a bungled coup attempt that could unleash anarchy on the streets of the capital.

"The street is alright for expressing ideas," an Antananarivan resident tells me, as we stand watching a mob throw bricks at security forces protecting government offices, "but not for action. That's not democracy," he nods towards the crowd. "We might need change, but not like this."

Several explosions signal the release of more tear gas and a volley of warning shots is fired into the air.

Now, almost every day thousands of anti-government protestors gather to demand the removal of president Marc Ravalomanana.

They are led by firebrand opposition leader, Andry Rajoelina. He addresses his supporters from behind the immense hulks of his bodyguards.

But while the man himself is hardly visible, his carefully chosen words have bought the complex politics of this island nation to boiling point.

Accusations

Mr Rajoelina, a former DJ who made his money in advertising, knows how to agitate a crowd.

"We won't accept any more misery and poverty," he cries, as he denounces the president and his extensive commercial interests... a popular refrain.

"There is one man with all the business interests in this country," he continues, "and no one else can profit."

Mr Rajoelina, nicknamed TGV after France's high speed train, accuses Mr Ravalomanana of frittering away public funds and striking a controversial land deal with a foreign investor, a deal that has not been completed.

"Rajoelina he is only the tip of the iceberg," sighs one government official close to the presidency.

Madagascar is no stranger to political disturbance since independence

"He is just a spokesman, and everyone with a grievance against the president has got behind him. But this is really the politics of manipulation and revenge."

Revenge or not, some people believe the young opposition leader may offer them their only chance to make life better. And if that means bringing Antananarivo to a standstill with riots and strikes, so be it.

'Deepening crisis'

"This is our way," exclaims one opposition supporter. "In fact, this is the only way."

But others are not so sure. "I've lived through two of these upheavals and this is the worst yet," a friend tells me as we rush to finish our drinks before curfew sets in.

"I don't know what's happening here. All I know is that it's bad for my country. Who is really going to benefit from all this?" he asks.

The damp heap of newspapers on the table catches my eye.

Sadly, I suspect the man who sold them to me, and the thousands like him, will not be among the real beneficiaries of Madagascar's troubles.

From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday, 28 February, 2009 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times.

EU ready for crunch economy talks

President Sarkozy (left) denies that his bail-out plan is protectionist

European Union leaders are preparing for an emergency summit in Brussels seeking to bridge differences on how to deal with the global economic crisis.

The summit was called after French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to bail out France's car industry if it did not shift jobs out of France.

The French move raised fears that national protectionism could scupper hopes of recovery within the EU.

Leaders of badly-hit European nations meet earlier for separate talks.

Many of the newer EU members of Central and Eastern Europe have seen their financial institutions and economies battered by the developing recession.

The heads of nine of those nations, among them Hungary and Latvia, both facing serious liquidity problems, will meet before the full summit begins.

They are then expected to highlight their concerns about protectionism and call for more help from richer EU nations, reports the BBC's Oana Lungescu, in Brussels.

However, officials have played down chances of EU leaders taking any decision on Hungary's call for a 180bn euro (£160bn) aid package for Central and Eastern Europe.

'New dividing lines'

The summit, called by the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, is being held just a week after the same EU leaders met to discuss reforming the region's financial system.

Ahead of the latest meeting, France's President Sarkozy denied accusations of protectionism levied at his three billion euro (£2.7bn) bail-out plan, which aims to keep French carmakers manufacturing in France.

We face the threat of a retreat into protectionism UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown Send us your comments

However, he said that if the US defended its own industries, perhaps Europe should do the same.

The French move has been criticised by the Central Europeans, who argue that the French bail-out plan should not be implemented at their expense.

"We do not want any new dividing lines. We do not want a Europe divided along a North-South or an East-West line," Mr Topolanek said ahead of Sunday's summit.

"Efforts and measures to fight the economic crisis within the EU must respect the principle of solidarity, but they also require that all players show responsibility," Mr Topolanek said.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also warned that state aid to bail out ailing sectors should not be used to reverse the EU's progress towards competitive cross-border markets.

"The EU needs open world markets now more than ever if part of our recovery is to be export-led," he said.

However, no new decisions are expected in Brussels on Sunday, as EU leaders will be meeting again later this month for a scheduled summit, our correspondent says.

That summit is part of the build-up to a G20 meeting of world leaders which British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will host in London on 2 April.

In a letter to the EU leaders meeting in Brussels, Mr Brown echoed the call to work together: "We face the threat of a retreat into protectionism," he said.

Mr Brown, who travels to Washington this week, where he will become the first European leader to meet US President Barack Obama, said the upcoming G20 talks represented an opportunity to agree "a new deal".

"Only by working together will we deliver the EU and international recovery we need."

Serie A - Juventus scrape past Napoli

Serie A - Juventus scrape past Napoli

Claudio Marchisio's first-half goal gave second-placed Juventus a 1-0 home win over Napoli in Serie A.

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Marchisio's deflected shot put the Bianconeri ahead just before half-time in a poor match with few genuine opportunities.

An uninspiring opening 45 minutes saw Juventus create more chances but Napoli keeper Nicolas Navarro was in fine form.

The 23-year-old Argentine denied Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet with top class saves and also covered the back of shaky-looking 21-year-old centre-back Fabiano Santacroce with some timely interceptions.

Gianluigi Buffon was considerably less busy in the Juventus goal, but when the Italy keeper was called into action he did not disappoint with a good near-post block from Slovak playmaker Marek Hamsik.

The hosts took the lead just before the break after a good move involving Sebastian Giovinco and Christian Poulsen, although Marchisio's shot would not have beaten Navarro without a big deflection off Manuele Blasi.

The second half began with a slight improvement in terms of the passing, but it stayed tight and neither side created any clear-cut chances.

After the hour mark passed, the game took a turn for the worse and became a slog, with both teams short on inspiration and the majority of goal threat coming from high, hopeful balls which proved not to be the best decision with goalkeepers as strong in the air as Buffon and Navarro.

Trezeguet had a half chance but his shot was blocked by Matteo Contini, while substitute Amauri met a cross from the France striker with a mis-directed header.

Napoli's Ezequiel Lavezzi had the ball in the back of the net after a goalmouth scramble followed a late free-kick, but it was correctly ruled out for offside on the part of Paolo Cannavaro, whose initial header was blocked by Buffon.

Despite some late Napoli pressure, Juve held on for the win and move six points behind runaway leaders Internazionale, while the visitors stay in mid-table.

In the earlier Serie A clash, Mauro Zarate struck twice as Lazio beat struggling Bologna 2-0 to move up to seventh in Serie A.

The Argentine forward ended his three-month goal drought by curling a free-kick past Francesco Antonioli on 36 minutes.

He sealed the win with nine minutes to go when he chipped Antonioli after a one-two with strike partner Tommaso Rocchi.

The former Birmingham man now has 10 league goals for the season.

Lazio's first league win at home in two months made it a bitter return to the Stadio Olimpico for Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic, who played for the Rome side between 1998 and 2004.

Midfielder Massimo Mutarelli came on in the second half to make his debut for 17th-placed Bologna against the club he took to a tribunal to free himself from his contract.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Sarwan leads West Indies recovery

Ramnaresh Sarwan batted all day for a superb 184 not out, his third century of the series, to lead West Indies to 398 for five on the third day of the fourth Test against England.

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Sarwan's chanceless innings carried West Indies to within 202 runs of England's first innings 600 for six declared on a day tinged with controversy over umpire referral decisions.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made a smooth 70 in a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Sarwan, and Brendan Nash were given out lbw when third umpire Daryl Harper overturned the onfield official's decision following England referrals.

In both cases the decisions were highly questionable and left coach John Dyson gesticulating on the pavilion balcony.

England's four wickets on Saturday all came from lbw dismissals with Devon Smith (55) and Ryan Hinds (15) trapped by spinner Graeme Swann before lunch.

Swann also later removed Nash for 33.

Harper's decisions, made under a trial system of video referrals that remains a source of much debate, should not take anything away from another outstanding performance by Sarwan.

The right-hander, confidently driving and cutting against some largely unthreatening England bowling, made his second highest Test score and continued a rich vein of form.

In four knocks in this series only once has Sarwan failed to make a century and that was when he struck 94 in the third Test in Antigua.

West Indies resumed on 85 for one and made a positive start with Smith and Sarwan reaching their half-centuries before Swann struck.

Smith, pushing forward, was ruled leg before after an appeal to the referral system. He and Sarwan had put on 108. Left-hander Hinds, on his home ground, then went in similar fashion just before lunch.

There was something inevitable about the way Guyanese pair Sarwan and Chanderpaul, so often the backbone of the batting, set about chasing the target of 401 to avoid the follow-on.

Seamer James Anderson's lbw appeal against Chanderpaul looked optimistic, with the ball striking the left-hander high on the pad. Even though the television images seemed to confirm that, he was given out.

Nash, whose tenacious batting has added steel to the West Indies middle-order, was livelier than usual as he made his 33 off 43 balls including a six over third man.

However he too will consider himself unlucky after the television images of Swann's delivery indicated the ball would have gone over the top of the stumps.

Denesh Ramdin joined Sarwan to see things through to the close, the wicketkeeper making 25 not out.

West Indies lead the five-match series 1-0.

Reuters

Premier League - Fulham impress as Arsenal draw again

Fulham held Arsenal to a fourth consecutive goalless Premier League draw in an entertaining clash at the Emirates.

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Arsenal left the pitch to jeers after a clash that was enjoyable for neutrals but frustrating for partisans, although Fulham fans will have been impressed by their side's organisation and passing.

The hosts had the better chances but both sides could have won a game characterised by slick play from both teams and stout defending by Fulham in particular.

The first half somehow remained goalless despite a frantic pace and attacking attitude from both sides that saw chances traded at will.

Andy Johnson (pictured to the left of Gael Clichy) fired just wide in the second minute, while Samir Nasri went straight down the other end to do likewise.

Johnson had another chance five minutes later but again he sent the ball just beyond the post after a good turn on the edge of the box.

In keeping with the theme of the game, the Gunners hit back and on 10 minutes Robin van Persie forced a superb point-blank save from Mark Schwarzer with a bullet header from Andrei Arshavin's right-wing cross.

Both sides play good football and the end-to-end nature of the match continued with Nasri and Van Persie dilly-dallying for Arsenal when they should have scored, while Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Simon Davies went close for Fulham.

The second half began with Arsenal by far the dominant force.

Nasri had a near-post shot blocked wide after more great work from Arshavin, Van Persie headed over from the subsequent corner and Arshavin had a volley of his own blocked.

The best chance of the game fell to Van Persie on the hour mark when Fulham failed to clear a corner and the ball popped up for Bacary Sagna on the right.

The right-back played an excellent cross to the edge of the six-yard box where Dutch striker Van Persie rose unmarked to flick an angled header past Schwarzer but on to the post.

Fulham had been under the cosh for the first quarter-hour of the second half but after that escape they regained confidence and should have scored themselves.

A 10-minute spell of possession saw Davies, Clint Dempsey and Zamora go close, while Johnson had two superb chances to put his side in front.

The first came when he mis-controlled Davies's ball, which had put him one-on-one with Manuel Almunia.

Then he somehow headed Fredrik Stoor's excellent cross wide after a hypnotic spell of passing from the Whites.

Arsene Wenger realised his side were close to throwing the match away, so brought on Nicklas Bendtner for the anonymous Carlos Vela.

The Dane had an immediate impact, creating chances for Van Persie and Arshavin, while Abou Diaby's header from Nasri's 73rd-minute corner forced a close-range, reflex stop from Schwarzer's legs.

Emmanuel Eboue was inexplicably brought on for the impressive Sagna and quickly showed his lack of composure when he thrashed the ball out for a throw after being put through on the right.

The pendulum then swung Fulham's way, with several waves of attacks culminating in Zamora muscling through the home defence and firing wide.

Arshavin - Arsenal's best player on the day - was denied by another diving stop from Schwarzer and the latter stages saw Fulham keep the ball well.

A lengthy period of stoppage time irked Fulham boss Roy Hodgson as Arsenal threw the kitchen sink at his team but the North London side were blunt in attack as this season's surprise package held on for a point.

Arsenal now lie only two points ahead of sixth-placed Everton, while Fulham closed to within a point of seventh-placed Wigan, who have played one game more than the West Londoners.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Premier League - Chelsea's late strike stuns Wigan

A late Frank Lampard winner continued Guus Hiddink's perfect start as Chelsea manager with a 2-1 victory over Wigan at Stamford Bridge.

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John Terry's flamboyant volley on 25 minutes opened the scoring, but Wigan's tireless efforts to come back at their hosts were rewarded when Olivier Kapo equalised on 82 minutes.

The goal looked to have secured a hard-fought point for Wigan until Lampard's looping injury-time header gave the points to the home side.

The game started cagily, with both sides keeping things tight and no clear-cut chances falling to either team.

That soon changed, however, as Chelsea built a good attacking move on 18 minutes that culminated in Nicolas Anelka drawing a good save from Chris Kirkland in the Wigan goal.

Thinking quickly, Kirkland got a counter-attack going with his well-targeted clearance, and before they knew it Wigan had Paul Scharner clear through on Petr Cech.

Sadly for the visitors, Scharner wasted the golden chance with a pulled shot that went wide left, perhaps betraying a little rustiness after his absence from the team through illness.

Three minutes later, however, Wigan looked to put things right as Titus Bramble got on the end of a corner and headed strongly past Cech - only for Ashley Cole to clear the ball off the line. Lee Cattermole pounced on the rebound but the ball was somehow kept out once more, this time Terry the man responsible.

Terry's heroics continued apace: on the stroke of 25 minutes he latched on to Bramble's loose headed clearance from a corner, hitting a spectacular volley which confirmed his status as Chelsea's highest-scoring defender.

The goal both relaxed and galvanised Chelsea, and they began to dominate the match after having looked so vulnerable beforehand. Yet for all their chances, Lampard's over-curled long-range effort on 37 minutes was as close as they got to increasing the lead.

Chelsea started the second half as they had finished the first, and on 51 minutes looked as if they had broken through as Lampard's brilliant angled through-pass to Didier Drogba gave the Ivory Coast striker a perfect chance to score.

Yet while Drogba beat Kirkland and found the target, his celebrations were prevented by the flying Bramble, scorching in across the six-yard box and clearing the ball off the line.

Having survived the chance Wigan fought back in to the game, and a goalmouth scramble on 65 minutes almost saw Cattermole weave a long, powerful drive through the mass of players in the six-yard box.

Chelsea continued to push hard for the goal which would make the game safe, but Wigan kept up their counter-attacking pressure as well and were rewarded when Kapo slid in at the near post on 82 minutes to put Maynor Figueroa's cross in to the net.

The strike seemed to have secured a point for the visitors, with the tireless defending of Bramble and Emmerson Boyce seemingly equal to Chelsea's attacks.

But then, a minute in to injury time, Michael Ballack's long ball from the half-way line was poorly headed by Boyce, allowing Lampard to head over Kirkland and in to the Wigan net.

It was a crushing blow to Wigan, who seemed to have done enough to take something away from Stamford Bridge - but Hiddink's Chelsea retain their perfect record and go second in the Premier League ahead of Liverpool.

Toby Keel / Eurosport

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Liverpool's fading Premier League title hopes suffered a crushing blow as they lost 2-0 to strugglers Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

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A Xabi Alonso own-goal and a Tuncay Sanli effort - one in each half - did the damage, while the visitors missed a host of chances in the absence of injured striker Fernando Torres.

Liverpool remain seven points behind leaders Manchester United, who play the Carling Cup final on Sunday, after suffering just their second defeat of the current campaign. They drop to third behind Chelsea.

Captain Steven Gerrard went off a quarter of an hour from the end, as Rafa Benitez's side failed to conjure one of their trademark late surges.

Liverpool's title challenge might have been over long ago were it not for their amazing penchant for comeback victories.

They set the tone for a season of last-gasp heroics in their opening home game back in August, when Boro led until the 86th minute before an Emanuel Pogatetz own-goal and a 94th-minute Gerrard stunner turned the game around.

So Boro's opener against the run of play ought not to have disheartened the visitors unduly.

However, Liverpool heads visibly dropped at a classic sucker punch just after the half-hour mark. Stewart Downing swung his corner in from the right and Alonso, who appeared to be having his shirt pulled, inadvertently redirected the ball past Pepe Reina and into the far corner off his left hip.

Middlesbrough led despite failing to record a serious goal attempt - their only effort a sliding Gary O'Neil shot straight at Reina from close range.

Liverpool, despite the absence of Torres, had created plenty of openings and ought to have been in front by then.

Dirk Kuyt, Ryan Babel and the young Moroccan Nabil El Zhar operated as a fluid front three, switching positions and causing problems with their movement.

Kuyt had the game's first shot with a low effort from the right side of the box that Brad Jones parried, and his follow-up was blocked.

The Dutchman had an even better chance shortly afterwards when a left-wing cross from the impressive Fabio Aurelio was deflected into his path. He had time and space 10 yards out, but Jones managed to help his high, hard shot over the bar.

Babel and Gerrard also went close - the returning captain looking odds-on to score but was denied by a brilliant David Wheater block.

The second-half started in similar fashion, with Liverpool creating plenty of chances but failing to finish them.

El Zhar, generally useful despite his surprise selection ahead of Yossi Benayoun, had a golden chance when Gerrard pulled the ball back from the left, but the young Moroccan side-footed the ball hopelessly over.

Sixty-two minutes in, Tuncay made it two as Boro executed a superb counter-attack. O'Neil released Jeremie Aliadiere down the right and the Frenchman laid on a simple pass for Tuncay to finish inside the left-hand post.

Benitez's strikers could only wonder what might have been if they had finished so clinically, and the introduction of David Ngog only reinforced their lack of options. Robbie Keane may not have been perfect, but he was a sight better than this.

Kuyt suffered more indignity on 68 minutes when Gerrard surged into the box and crossed low to the unmarked striker, who somehow failed to make contact with the ball in front of an open goal.

When Gerrard - still not fully fit after his hamstring injury - went off 15 minutes from time, the game was effectively up for Liverpool.

On Friday the Reds lost their chief executive Rick Parry - 24 hours later they may well have seen their title hopes depart.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Scottish Premier League - Old Firm bore draw

Celtic remain two points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL table after the two sides played out a bore 0-0 draw at Celtic Park.

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Neither side ever settled into a scrappy match where space and chances were at a premium.

There was only one significant chance in the first-half but it was a guilt-edged one as Scott McDonald somehow managed to glance a header wide from six yards out despite an absolutely perfect cross from the right from Old Firm debutant Willo Flood.

Celtic were the more ambitious side in the first-half, but with the exception of McDonald's effort, Rangers' well organised defence never looked like conceding.

As the match developed, the visitors gradually started to show a little more going forward and they came closest to breaking the deadlock in the second half.

Firstly, Stephen McManus nearly headed into his own net early in the second-half but Artur Boruc got him out of jail with a superb save after Madjid Bougherra's cross from the right had caused problems.

Boruc was again there to rescue the Bhoys 11 minutes from time when he tipped over a good powerful header from David Weir.

For Celtic, Shunsuke Nakamura had a late chance from a free-kick but Allan McGregor did enough to save despite spilling the ball.

In truth though, neither side did enough to win the match with the eight yellow cards saying as much about the type of match it was, as the lack of chances.

Rangers boss Walter Smith said his side had been poor in the first-half.

"I was far happier with our second-half performance compared to our first-half, which was one of the worst we have had away from home this season," Smith said.

"We were far brighter in the second-half but Artur Boruc was up to the chances we had."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said his side had not taken the chances that fell to them in the first-half.

"There were very few chances in the first-half and we were not good enough to take those that fell to us," Strachan said.

"I would be far happier if we were five points clear but we don't have anyone else to blame but ourselves."

FA Cup - What the managers said

A brief look at how the managers reacted to Sunday's FA Cup action, with Martin O'Neill unhappy over the absence of England striker Emile Heskey.

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Derby County 1 - 4 Manchester United

Nigel Clough: "It probably puts it in perspective when you consider the side we're playing against. They could pretty much score at will. We had a good spell after (United's third goal) and we might have got it back to 3-2, but overall we're pleased with the performance even though we lost 4-1. We kept going, we kept playing when it would have been easy to roll over."

Alex Ferguson: "The linesman created his own confusion (for the disallowed goal) because he went so long, until after the goal had been scored, to say it was offside. He said he was waiting to find out whether Ryan (Giggs) had touched it. Nevertheless, (Cristiano) Ronaldo was still in an offside position. I have no complaints about the actual decision. It was the fact he waited so long. I did not understand the explanation."

Everton 3 - 1 Aston Villa

David Moyes: "With Villa's resources, I felt we would have a problem with the injuries we had to cope with. But they adapted. Senior men Mikel Arteta, Tim Cahill, Phil Jagielka, they all did so well. It was a very good team performance. (Victor Anichebe) is an exciting young player, just like the other youngsters who played in this tie - (Jack) Rodwell and (Dan) Gosling - and he caused Villa real problems and played well."

Martin O'Neill: "Gareth Barry being suspended was our fault, our problem. Being without (Emile) Heskey is not our fault. He should not have played on Wednesday for England because he had an existing Achilles injury and made it worse. (Injured defender Luke Young) showed his face at the England camp and was sent home. The same should have happened to Heskey, I would have had a better chance of him playing in the cup tie if that had happened."

Strauss puts England on top

Captain Andrew Strauss put the disastrous first Test behind him as he struck 169 to lead England to an impressive 301-3 at stumps on the first day of the third Test against West Indies at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

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Strauss was ably assisted by Alastair Cook (52) and Owais Shah (57) as England bounced back from their mauling in Kingston to put themselves in a strong position.

West Indies won the first Test of the series in Jamaica by an innings after bowling England out for 51 in their second innings.

After all the problems with the ground at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, resulting in the second Test being abandoned, that defeat felt a long time ago - but no doubt the batting collapse remained in the minds of the upper order.

It took just one and a half sessions for England to show that they are a much better side than the one that surrendered so meekly at Sabina Park.

"We've had a hard couple of weeks. After being bowled out 51 in the last Test you want to come out and play positively and prove to everyone that as a batting unit we have a lot of good players," Strauss said.

"In that respect it's very satisfying."

After batting all day, with 24 fours and a big six to bring up England's hundred, Strauss looked well set to continue his innings into the second day but a tired attempted pull shot near the close resulted in a simple caught and bowled for Fidel Edwards.

The game at the Antigua Recreation Ground had been hastily arranged following the abandonment of the second test on Friday after just 10 balls, when the outfield at the other major ground on the island was deemed unfit.

The replacement venue, the traditional home of Test matches in Antigua, provided a more intimate and authentic Caribbean cricket atmosphere and a wicket that offered plenty for stroke players.

After rain delayed the start by 45 minutes, England made just the kind of start they needed, bringing up 40 in the first 11 overs and forcing West Indies skipper Chris Gayle to turn to spin before lunch.

Jerome Taylor, who had ripped through England's top order in Kingston, was far less of a threat against the sturdy Strauss.

The largely English crowd in a ground that had been rapidly turned from a training venue into a Test match facility made a point of applauding as England passed the 51 mark.

There was a nostalgic feel to the game with the ramshackle stands, old-fashioned West Indian food stands and an absence of giant screens and umpire referrals.

But there was also something in England's display that recalled the past.

In 1994, England bounced back from a humiliating low score - 46 in Trinidad - to score 355 and 394 as they won by 208 runs with Alec Stewart commanding through two centuries.

Strauss has helped his team to achieve at least the first part of that performance - bouncing back from the potentially confidence-shattering defeat.

Fellow opener Alastair Cook helped put on 123 for the first wicket before Cook went caught by Devon Smith off Chris Gayle's off-spin for 52.

Then Owais Shah, drafted in for Ian Bell, struck a confident 57 off 100 balls before he was run out looking for a quick single.

After Strauss's departure nightwatchman James Anderson (3 no) saw out the final overs of the evening with Kevin Pietersen (8 no).

FA Cup - United sweep into last eight of Cup

Manchester United's bid for an unprecedented quadruple gained momentum after a 4-1 win over Derby County at Pride Park booked a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

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United went two goals up before half-time thanks to strikes from Nani and Darron Gibson with Cristiano Ronaldo adding a third soon after the break.

Derby defender Miles Addison pulled one back on 56 minutes to give the hosts some brief hope only for substitute Danny Welbeck to seal victory for the Premier League side with a fourth in the 82nd minute.

The result saw United reach the last eight, where they were drawn to play Swansea or Fulham.

Chelsea were handed an away trip to Blackburn or Coventry while Cardiff City or Arsenal or Burnley will play Sheffield United or Hull City.

Completing the draw were the day's other winners, Everton, who were paired with either West Ham or Middlesbrough.

Derby may be the only team to have beaten United this year but a repeat of their 1-0 victory in the first leg of January's Carling Cup semi-final was never on the cards, despite an experimental United side.

Alex Ferguson opted to make seven changes to the starting XI that beat West Ham last weekend, with Ben Foster and Gibson among those drafted in to win rare starts.

But United's strength in depth is second to none and even a side missing the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic were capable of bossing the opening stages.

Stephen Bywater was Derby's busiest player early on and the keeper was called into action on two occasions as United sprayed the ball around confidently and carved out a number of chances.

The first fell to Darren Fletcher, the Scotsman nearly rounding off a fluid passing move involving Rafael Da Silva, Ryan Giggs and Ronaldo with a crisp drive which Bywater was forced to deal with.

The keeper again denied United soon after, this time pulling off a brilliant reaction save to deny Ji-Sung Park from close range.

There were brief moments of encouragement for the hosts however, Paul Green seeing an instinctive first-time volley on 21 minutes whistle over the bar before Rob Hulse charged into the box, only to blot his copybook with a hopeful dive.

But the Premier League side looked comfortable and when the opener arrived, it came as no surprise.

The manner of the strike was equally unsurprising, given that Nani cut in from the left wing to fire an unstoppable drive past the keeper - a thrilling sight already witnessed on numerous occasions since the Portuguese arrived in Manchester and one likely to be repeated again.

The visitors thought they had doubled their lead on 37 minutes through Ronaldo, only to be denied by a late linesman's flag. The Ballon d'Or winner had nearly finished his celebrations by the time the referee's whistle blew to indicate he had been offside as Giggs flicked through.

Ferguson raged at the decision on the touchline but his mood was softened just before the half-time break when Gibson pounced on a blocked Ronaldo free-kick to fire home first-time from the edge of the box.

Ronaldo found the back of the net again three minutes into the second half and this time there was no disputing its validity; the forward reached a corner ahead of Addison to direct a typically powerful header past Bywater.

A fourth very nearly followed, but Bywater was again on hand to deny first Ronaldo and then Fletcher with an impressive double save.

Against the run of play, Addison then headed past Foster in the 57th minute to give the home crowd hope of witnessing an improbable comeback.

The goal sparked Derby into life and at 1-3 down, the next goal was always going to be crucial.

Gary Teale in particular did his best to ensure it went Derby's way, and he became the focal point for most of the hosts' attacking play. Only a super save by Foster denied the Scot with a well-struck effort from distance, a goal that would have made for an interesting final 13 minutes.

But it was United who were to have the final say on proceedings, Welbeck opening up his body to sidefoot home with a crisp first time effort on 81 minutes and maintain United hopes of a clean sweep of this season's trophies.

FA Cup - Everton down Villa to reach quarters

Everton continued their impressive recent form with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in a pulsating fifth round FA Cup tie at Goodison Park.

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Jack Rodwell put the Toffees ahead early on only for James Milner to bring Villa level soon after. Man of the match Mikel Arteta then restored Everton's lead before Tim Cahill made sure of victory in the second half.

The opening period was nothing short of frantic with a packed Goodison witnessing three goals, two penalties given, two big appeals turned down and four yellow cards brandished. In other words, this was a proper FA Cup tie.

Everton took the lead as early as the fourth minute, Rodwell reacting quickest following a goal-line clearance by Stiliyan Petrov to register his first goal in an Everton shirt.

Had the 17-year-old's close-range effort not found the roof of the net, referee Martin Atkinson would have been left with a big decision to make; Petrov, Villa's skipper for the day, had clearly blocked Cahill's header from Arteta's corner with his arm and would surely have been dismissed - with the obligatory penalty also awarded.

A further four minutes later and Villa were back on level terms after Gabriel Agbonlahor, on a trademark pacy run forward, was upended by Tony Hibbert in the Everton box.

Atkinson pointed to the spot and Milner duly stepped up to convert, although far from convincingly with Tim Howard guessing the right way and nearly getting enough on the ball to keep it out.

The Goodison crowd were again on their feet and screaming for a penalty moments later, this time Cahill claiming he was pushed as he rose to meet another Arteta cross. Atkinson - a late replacement for match official Phil Dowd - thought otherwise, and decided to book the Australian for deliberate handball instead.

But Everton were to get their penalty on 24 minutes, Steve Sidwell sliding in recklessly on Victor Anichebe as the Toffees striker broke through the visitors' back line with a typically strong run. Arteta, without doubt the best player on the pitch during the first half, sent Brad Friedel the wrong way from 12 yards to put Everton into the lead for a second time.

Villa should really have gone in at the break at 2-2, but Agbonlahor wasted a glorious opportunity to restore parity with a glaring miss just after the half hour mark. The England international was gifted a free header from six yards out but somehow conspired to send his effort wide of the mark, the ball actually coming off his shoulder.

After the electric start to the first half, perhaps it was no surprise to see the second begin in more sedate fashion.

It took nearly 20 minutes before either side were able to fashion a chance of real note, Villa finally managing to put together a decent passing move which culminated in John Carew flicking goalwards from Milner's cross. Only a fine fingertip save by Howard denied the big Norwegian a goal on his return to the side.

The opportunity heralded the beginning of a good little period for the visitors - which was punctuated only by Cahill's header at Friedel - as Martin O'Neill's side started to apply some sustained pressure for the first time.

First Sidwell wasted a great chance when found all alone in the Everton box before Ashley Young, unusually ineffective throughout, sliced wide of the mark from the edge of the penalty area.

But just as Villa were beginning to look like grabbing an equaliser, Everton proved what a difficult team they are to beat by hitting back against the run of play on 76 minutes.

Cahill it was who grabbed a deserved goal after Curtis Davies had failed to deal with Anichebe's cross.

The goal killed sucked the fight out of Villa and there was to be no late drama as Everton held on to reach their first quarter final in seven seasons.

U.S. child guilty of mother’s murder

A 12-year-old boy in the United States has been found guilty of murder. The child shot and killed his mother, Sara Madrid, 34, after an argument over his chores. He cannot be named because he is still a juvenile. The court heard he was so angry that he got his mother’s gun from her bedroom and shot her eight times. Ms Madrid’s partner, Alfonso Munoz, witnessed the shooting. He said the boy handed him the empty gun after he had finished shooting. Munoz told the court he taught the boy how to use the weapon for emergencies and for self-defense. Local newspapers reported that Ms Madrid did not get on with her son. Her sister told the court that Madrid had a quick temper and often yelled at, scolded and slapped the boy.

The future of the boy is now in the hands of an Arizona judge, James L. Conlogue. He will sentence the 12-year-old on January the 23rd. Prosecutors want the boy to receive the same sentence as an adult. However, this is impossible under U.S. law, which states a juvenile can only be held until he becomes 18. The boy's lawyer, Sanford Edleman, argued that the boy could not be tried as an adult because he was so young. Edleman said the boy did not even understand what was going on. He said the boy did not intend to kill his mother and that he only wanted to get back at her for scolding and slapping him. The judge ruled the case should stay in the juvenile court after a psychologist said the boy had suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother.

Venezuela awaiting poll outcome

Polls have closed in Venezuela in a referendum on removing limits on how often politicians, including President Hugo Chavez, can run for office.

The outcome is expected to be close and Mr Chavez has said he will respect the result either way.

Mr Chavez has said he needs to stay in office beyond the end of his second term in 2012 so he can secure what he calls Venezuela's socialist revolution.

Critics say the that would concentrate too much power in the presidency.

Polls officially closed at 1811 (2241 GMT), but people still in line at that time were allowed to cast their vote.

More than 16 million Venezuelans were eligible to vote. Results are expected later on Sunday.

Tight security

The BBC's Will Grant reports that Mr Chavez was confident as he voted in an area of the capital, Caracas, where he can rely on almost complete support.

"My political destiny will be decided today," said the president, a former paratrooper, after casting his vote.

"This is important for me as a human being and as a soldier in this fight," he said.

"We'll recognize the result, whatever it is, once it is announced by the National Electoral Council."

My political destiny will be decided today Hugo Chavez Venezuelan president Crucial vote for Chavez Voters' views In pictures: Venezuela referendum

Our correspondent says there is also significant opposition to the constitutional change, and many in the "no" camp believe they have done enough to overturn the proposal.

Security across the country has been tight, with thousands of troops on duty to ensure the voting passed off peacefully.

Dozens of election observers from international bodies such as the UN and the Organisation of American States were also on hand to verify that the referendum was free and fair.

Under the present constitution, the president is limited to two six-year terms in office, which means that Hugo Chavez would have to leave the presidency in 2012.

But he says he wants to remain in office until 2021, as long as he can keep winning elections.

Venezuelans divided

A proposal to end presidential term limits was one of a package of 69 constitutional changes narrowly rejected in a 2007 referendum.

The issue of indefinite re-election has divided Venezuelans like almost no other, our correspondent says.

For a second time in little over a year the question is being decided at the ballot box.

The latest referendum, if passed, would remove the limit on the number of times local governors and state politicians, as well as the president, can stand for office.

Some analysts say this change could make the difference for Mr Chavez, as many local governors are said to back the measure this time around.

But the opposition is adamant that the proposal has been rejected once and should not be back under discussion, our correspondent says.