[Wings of Fire]

Twitter has added media mogul Rupert Murdoch to its ranks.

Within three days his @rupertmurdoch account attracted over 45,000 followers.

But reaction to the 80-year-old chairman and chief executive of News Corporation's Twitter presence has been mixed.

In a tweet Rupert Murdoch noted: "I'm getting killed for fooling around here and friends frightened what I may really say."

Among those sending jovial reminders of current controversies, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott tweeted, "Welcome to Twitter...@rupertmurdoch. I've left you a Happy New Year message on my voicemail!"

The comment referred to the phone-hacking scandal which had resulted in the closure of the News of The World.

Mr Murdoch also threatened to create more problems for himself after tweeting from his tablet computer about the UK's bank holiday: "Maybe Brits have too many holidays for [a] broke country!"

Well.