Avatar, Hurt Locker lead the Oscar nominations

Ex-spouses battle for top awards

BEVERLY HILLS: The science-fiction sensation Avatar and the Iraq war thriller The Hurt Locker lead the Academy Awards with nine nominations each, including best picture and director for former spouses James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow.

For the first time since 1943 the Oscars feature 10 best-picture contenders instead of the usual five.