World highlights

• Iraqi troops backed by US attack helicopters fought militants in central Baghdad yesterday when figures showed a sharp leap in the number of Iraqis who died violently in November. Two Apache helicopters firing anti-missile flares swooped over Fadhil neighbourhood, a Sunni insurgent stronghold in one of the oldest parts of the capital, amid the slow thump of heavy machinegun fire, witnesses said.

• Felipe Calderon was sworn in as Mexico's president despite fierce protests from leftist lawmakers who say he stole July's election and had vowed to stop him from taking the oath of office in Congress. Surrounded by bodyguards, the conservative Calderon slipped into the main hall of Congress through a back entrance, quickly declared the oath of office and put on the presidential sash before being rushed out again.

• Russia is ready to back sanctions against Iran aimed at preventing it from building military nuclear potential, Interfax news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying.

• Ukraine's parliament, mounting its toughest challenge yet to President Viktor Yushchenko, sacked two ministers who played a key role in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" and promoted his pro-Western policies. Parliament and the government have been at odds with the president since Viktor Yanukovich, the president's nemesis, was named prime minister in August. Each side has persistently tried to undermine the authority of the other.