Luther King follows in father's footsteps

The son of Martin Luther King was yesterday made head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference - on what would have been the assassinated civil rights leader's 69th birthday.

Martin Luther King III, aged 40, takes over the organisation founded by his father in 1957. He replaces the Rev Joseph Lowery, who along with the Rev David Abernathy and other civil rights leaders helped King found the conference. The movement now has over 100 associate groups across the US.

A conference spokesman said: "Mr King will help the SCLC continue in its mission to create a climate where African Americans have equal rights to jobs, housing and to the American dream."