Los Angeles  - An arsonist who set a massive wildfire in southern California in 2006 that killed five firefighters is facing the death penalty after being convicted for murder and arson, it was reported Wednesday.

Raymond Lee Oyler, 38, was convicted on five counts of murder, 20 counts of arson and 17 counts of using an incendiary device, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The prosecutor said Oyler coldheartedly killed the five firefighters in the 2006 Esperanza fire, which he set using a device made with matchsticks and a cigarette.

Washington  - Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's accountant was on Wednesday arrested and charged with securities fraud, the Justice Department said.

David G Friehling, 49, surrendered to authorities Wednesday morning and is the first accused accomplice of Madoff to be arrested since the 50-billion-dollar scandal came to light three months back.

An accountant for Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities LLC, Friehling faces a maximum 105 years in prison.

Washington - US President Barack Obama, under fire over the payment of huge bonuses to traders at the floundering insurance giant AIG, Wednesday vowed to end the culture of corporate greed in the United States.

He made his remarks on the White House lawn as he headed to California for two days away from the capital, where the crescendo of public ire over the payments is rising.

Mexico City - US President Barack Obama is set to visit Mexico on April 16-17, the Mexican government said Wednesday.

Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon are set to discuss "several matters in the hemispheric and global agenda that are of interest to both nations, particularly taking into account the active participation of both countries in several regional and global forums," said Max Cortazar, spokesman for the Mexican Presidency.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to visit Mexico on March 25-26 for meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa.

Washington  - The International Monetary Fund must be given more resources to rescue poorer nations battered by the financial crisis, US legislators said Wednesday, calling the global recession a threat to national security.

Democratic Senator John Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned the economic crisis had the potential to create "failed states" that could become breeding grounds for terrorism, drug trafficking and other security threats.

Washington - The US Congress Wednesday tapped into growing public ire over bailed-out insurance giant AIG's payment of bonuses as legislators explored ways to reclaim 165 million dollars from the company and its employees.

"There's a tidal wave of rage ... across America," said Representative Gary Ackerman at a hearing of the House Financial Services subcommittee.