GOTHENBURG, Sweden (AFP) - Canada's Jeffrey Buttle took the lead after the men's short programme at the world figure skating championships here on Friday.

Buttle, the 2006 Olympic bronze medallist, is ahead of American Johnny Weir and Japanese favourite Daisuke Takahashi going into Saturday's free skating final.

The 25-year-old, silver medallist in 2005, scored 82.10 points with Weir achieving 80.79 and Takahashi 80.40.

The battle for the gold looks set to be tough with just three points separating the top five.

European champion Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic is sitting in fourth position with Switzerland's Stephane Lambiel, world champion in 2005 and 2006, in fifth place.

Defending champion Brian Joubert of France is trailing in sixth after falling on a triple lutz. He scored 77.75.

Joubert lost two points for the fall and another for words sung to the music of his programme 'All for you' by Sebastien Damiani, which is against International Skaing Union (ISU) rules.

The French federation are appealing this penalty as the skater was not deducted points for this reason in previous competitions.

Joubert is not among the favourites here this week as he is recovering from a season hit by health problems.

Buttle, meanwhile, gave a faultless performance to Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla which included a triple-triple combination, as did Weir, demonstrating another style, in his presentation of Alexei Rybnikov's Yunona and Avos.

Takahashi, bidding to become the first Japanese man to win gold after taking silver last year, touched down on his triple axel during his hip-hop version of Swan Lake.

Grand Prix final winner Lambiel, the Olympic silver medallist, presented a Flamenco routine Carne Cruda by Fernando Egozcue, but struggled on his triple axel and touched the ice with his hand on his quad-triple combination.