Los Angeles - The death toll from the worst train crash in southern California history mounted late Saturday to at least 25 people, with 135 injured.

Officials blamed the driver of the passenger train for running though a red light and ploughing around a bend, head on into an oncoming freight train.

Los Angeles - The death toll from the worst train crash in southern California history mounted Saturday with at least 17 people dead and 135 injured.

As hundreds of rescue workers continued to sift through the mangled wreckage, officials warned grimly that the casualty figures were expected to rise.

The horrific accident occurred at 4:23 pm (2323 GMT Friday) when a freight train slammed into a packed commuter train on a stretch of single track near Chatsworth, in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles  - Cable news channel MSNBC has ousted news hosts Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman from anchoring its election coverage after a series of on-air feuds plus complaints from Republicans that the duo were too left-leaning in their coverage.

The channel said Monday that it had promoted chief White House correspondent David Gregory to anchor its election coverage, though Matthews and Olberman will remain as analysts.

Los Angeles  - Republican presidential candidate John McCain has set a television ratings record - 38.9 million viewers watched his acceptance speech on Thursday night, according to figures released Friday by ratings firm Nielsen Media Research.

Thursday was also the opening night of the American football season. The New York Giants-Washington Redskins game ended minutes before McCain took to the stage.

McCain's viewing figures narrowly exceeded the 38.4 million viewers who tuned in to watch Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama last week.

Los Angeles  - The prime time speech of Republican vice presidential pick, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, at the party's national convention on Wednesday night was watched by more than 37 million viewers on US television, according to tracking firm Nielsen Media Research.

The ratings almost matched the record-setting 38.79 million viewers who tuned in last week to watch Barack Obama accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

Los Angeles  - Barack Obama's speech accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for the presidency was watched by more than 38 million people - making it the ratings hit of the summer - according to figures released Friday by Nielsen Media Research.

The historic address Thursday by the country's first African- American presidential candidate was more popular than the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.