TOKYO: Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp sold all 3,000 of its new robot dogs in just 20 minutes when the mechanical pets went on sale in Japan over the Internet on Tuesday, the firm said. ``To be honest, I didn't expect the sale would be finished in just 20 minutes,'' a Sony spokesman said. ``That was quick.'' The gleaming metallic puppy-sized robot is named AIBO, the Japanese word for partner, and sells for a hefty 250,000 yen ($2,080) each. The machines can play, bark, talk and even develop their own personalities. The dog comes with an array of sensors -- a colour closed-circuit camera, heat sensors, infra-red range finder, touch sensors, acceleration and speed sensors and a stereo microphone. Accepting most commands via a remote control, AIBO also barks, talks and even sings in English or Japanese.

Families of Tiananmen victims sue Beijing

BEIJING: More than 100 families of victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre have filed a lawsuit against the Chinese leaders responsible for the 1989 crackdown, a spokeswoman for the families said on Tuesday. ``One hundred and five relatives of the victims have filed a legal suit against the state leaders of 1989,'' Ding Zilin, whose 17-year-old son was killed by Chinese troops, told AFP. Ding, who is under constant surveillance and has been barred from leaving her home for more than a month, refused to give further details, referring questions to the US-based Human Rights in China. Li Peng, premier at the time, is blamed by many for the bloodshed after he declared martial law in Beijing.

German scientist admits to stealing from US lab

BONN: Peter Seeburg, a well-respected German scientist, has admitted stealing DNA samples from a California laboratory where he was a young researcher in 1978, according to two German weeklies. Der Spiegel and Focus, reported that Peter Seeburg, now a director at the Max-Planck Molecular Research Institute in Heidelberg, smuggled out samples he haddeveloped, which allowed his employers to develop the growth hormone.