Police were investigating whether a group of welders working in a disco may have set off the fire that destroyed a six-storey building in the Vietnamese capital Ho Chi Minh City and killed at least 61 people, officials said today.

The number of people confirmed dead by the fire at the International Trade Centre in Ho Chi Minh City is 59 so far, however state owned media have predicted that the toll will rise much higher.

Moscow riot police today swiftly broke up a demonstration by about 10 Tibetans objecting to China’s bid to host of the 2008 Olympics.