The first blast took place at the Lubyanka metro station in the centre of the city, followed by a second explosion at Park Kultury in the southwest of the city.

Moscow’s chief prosecutor said the explosions were carried out by suicide bombers wearing explosive belts.

“We can assume that belts with explosive devices were attached to their bodies,” Yuri Syomin told reporters at Lubyanka square.

“The scenario was similar at Park Kultury metro station.”

Zhejiang Geely Holding Co., based in Hangzhou, agreed to pay $1.8 billion for Volvo, with $1.6 billion in cash and the rest in a note payable to Ford.

“The less fractional division of the country will enable us to resolve a number of transport and communications issues, will increase its manageability and strengthen the position of Russia as an important chain in the world’s global infrastructure,” President Dmitry Medvedev said at a special Kremlin meeting devoted to the issues of time change.

About 10 raiders pulled up at the Grand Casino in two cars just after 0400 (0200 GMT) and smashed their way in, brandishing machine-guns and pistols.

The French-speaking gang ordered the 600 guests and employees to the floor while they emptied registers.

The Grand Casino describes itself as the “Swiss Las Vegas” on its website.

Reports say they could not get into the strong room despite firing on the door.

That’s not because of a lack of challengers. A dozen Republicans are running in the June 8 primary, and several polls show Reid, a five-term senator, as the underdog against at least three of them: real estate owner Danny Tarkanian and former state lawmakers Sue Lowden and Sharron Angle.

The action comes just after Sarkozy’s ruling party did badly in regional elections and the president vowed to push ahead with his reform plans.

Benjamin Ball, the organiser of No Sarkozy Day, said: “There’s everybody. There are people from the left and the right. There are vote abstainers and others who vote, the young, the old, rich and poor. Everyone is fed up and wants a change.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy is planning a major overhaul of the pensions system, including raising the retirement age.

He also plans to rein in France’s public deficit, which is expected to reach 8.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2010.

“This is the essential question: at a certain point the debt level becomes unsustainable,” Fillon told the newspaper.

“The social security deficit is weighing very heavily but it is not the only part of the problem. We will continue to reduce the number of posts in the civil service,” he added.

According to one report, two Saudi sailors were injured in the alleged bombardment.
The Saudi vessel was forced to surrender, and its sailors were delivered into custody in Abu Dhabi for several days, before being released and handed over to the Saudi embassy earlier this week.

The incident has shocked diplomats who hope the countries, both key American allies, will help implement the West’s strategy to constrain Iran’s nuclear and military ambitions.

Families voiced their anger as hopes faded for the missing crew after the ship sank in one of South Korea’s worst naval disasters. Divers tried twice to get to the wreckage, Rear Adm. Lee Ki-sik of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told lawmakers.

The explosion at the rear of the Cheonan shut down its engine, wiped out power and caused the ship to sink a little over three hours later, the Joint Chiefs said. The exact cause was unclear, but North Korea did not appear to be to blame, officials said.

The publisher said both British newspapers will launch new Web sites in early May and offer a free trial period to registered customers.

Starting in June, each site will charge £1 ($1.48) for a day’s access or £2 ($2.96) for a week’s subscription, News International said.