The latest stories from the US & Canada section of the BBC News web site.
Obama pleads for Koran row calm
President Obama makes a plea for religious tolerance, as a church threatening to burn the Koran demands contact with a New York imam.
Iran 'delays US hiker's release'
Iran delays the release of Sarah Shourd, one of three US hikers arrested last year on suspicion of espionage, officials say.
Several die in California blast
At least four people have been killed in an explosion which tore through a town near San Francisco, officials say.
US jobs recovery 'painfully slow'
US President Barack Obama has said that progress in pulling the American economy out of recession has been "painfully slow".
Pentagon attempts to stop spy book
The US Department of Defense is trying to stop the distribution of a book by a former intelligence officer.
US judge challenges army gay ban
A federal judge rules that a ban on homosexuals serving openly in the US military is unconstitutional, in the latest challenge to the law.
Iran will release US woman hiker
Iran is set to release on Saturday Sarah Shourd - one of three detained US hikers held since last July and accused of espionage, officials say.
US soldiers 'kept Afghan body parts'
A group of US soldiers murdered a number of Afghan civilians and took body parts as trophies, documents released by military officials suggest.
Obama contradicts Mexico claims
US President Barack Obama contradicts claims made by his secretary of state that Mexico is dealing with a "drugs insurgency".
Reprieve for US stem cell funding
A court says federal funding for US stem cell research can continue until a final legal decision on the matter.
