Coldplay album takes US top spot

Coldplay's album includes tracks called Lovers In Japan and Violet Hill

British band Coldplay have shot straight to the top of the US Billboard 200 album chart.

Their fourth album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, sold more than 720,000 copies in its first week.

They are now top of the US and UK album charts and lead both single charts with the title track Viva La Vida.

The album becomes Coldplay's second number one album in the US after X&Y in 2005 and knocks Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III into the second spot.

According to Capitol Records Coldplay's new album has also topped the charts in Japan, Australia, Canada, France and Germany.

In May, the band's website collapsed after Violet Hill - the first single from the album - was made available for seven days as a free download on the band's website.