EU monitors to avoid Niger Delta

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The EU will not be sending monitors to Nigeria's volatile Niger Delta for April's polls as it is too dangerous, but will be in the other 33 states.

It would be "irresponsible to send anyone", EU election observer mission head Max van den Berg told the BBC.

Around 60 foreigners - mostly oil workers - have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta so far this year.

During the elections four years ago, the region was the scene of widespread vote-rigging and political violence.

"The EU Commission has decided that in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta (states), it is simply not a conducive environment," said Mr van den Berg.

He says he hopes the poll will be transparent this time although preparations are still incomplete.

Nigerians will elect their governors, MPs and Senators on 14 April and their new president a week later in an election that should mark the first transfer of power from one civilian government to another.

With just three weeks left to the start of polling, violence has already erupted in some parts of the country.

President Olusegun Obasanjo's home state, Ogun, was the scene of a violent clash between supporters of the governing Peoples Democratic Party and opposition parties two weeks ago.

Benue State in central Nigeria and Gombe State in the north-east region have also witnessed violence recently.