Main news of March 9

RUSSIA

* A Russian presidential aide on Monday dismissed fears that the Russian authorities could start taking over major assets of banks and businesses under the pretext of providing assistance to them during the financial crisis

* Two Russians and two Ukrainians died in an Il-76 air crash near Uganda's capital Kampala, an advisor to Russia's ambassador to Uganda said on the phone

* Norway's police have allowed a detained Russian dry cargo ship to leave the port of Bodo in the country's north

WORLD

* Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said the armed forces are ready for a war with Colombia should the country provoke it

* Britain and Russia are allies in the fight against terrorism, violence and extremism, a U.K. government security advisor said

* North Korea has put its armed forces on full combat readiness and cut off the only direct hotline with South Korea's military in response to plans of joint military exercises by South Korea and the U.S.

* The owner of the Il-76 aircraft that crashed in Uganda earlier Monday said an act of sabotage could be to blame for the crash that killed 11 people on board, Russia's Vesti TV channel reported on its website

* North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has been unanimously reelected to the country's parliament with 100% voter turnout, local media said

* U.S. President Barack Obama has lifted the restriction on federal funding of stem cell research imposed by his predecessor George W. Bush in 2001