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| Nigeria parties demand poll delay | Nigeria parties demand poll delay |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nigeria's main opposition parties have called for Saturday's presidential election to be postponed. | Nigeria's main opposition parties have called for Saturday's presidential election to be postponed. |
| In a statement, 18 parties also threatened to boycott the poll unless several of their conditions were met. | In a statement, 18 parties also threatened to boycott the poll unless several of their conditions were met. |
| Their demands include the annulment of last weekend's state polls described by the opposition as a "sham", and the disbanding of the electoral commission. | Their demands include the annulment of last weekend's state polls described by the opposition as a "sham", and the disbanding of the electoral commission. |
| But it is very unlikely the government will fulfil the opposition's demands, says the BBC's Will Ross in Abuja. | |
| In a separate development, a curfew continues in the northern city of Kano, after a day of violence by Islamists. | In a separate development, a curfew continues in the northern city of Kano, after a day of violence by Islamists. |
| On Tuesday, members of an Islamist group known as the Taleban stormed a police station in Kano, killing at least 13 people. | On Tuesday, members of an Islamist group known as the Taleban stormed a police station in Kano, killing at least 13 people. |
| Police said the militants had come from north-eastern Nigeria to avenge the assassination of a radical Islamic preacher, who was shot dead at a mosque last Friday. | Police said the militants had come from north-eastern Nigeria to avenge the assassination of a radical Islamic preacher, who was shot dead at a mosque last Friday. |
| Gunfire continues to be heard on Wednesday morning. | |
| Protest calls | Protest calls |
| The opposition parties called for a postponement of Saturday's presidential elections after lengthy talks in the capital, Abuja. | The opposition parties called for a postponement of Saturday's presidential elections after lengthy talks in the capital, Abuja. |
| Twelve policemen and a civilian were killed in the Kano attack | Twelve policemen and a civilian were killed in the Kano attack |
| In the statement, they demanded the "total voiding" of the 14 April state elections and the complete disbandment and reconstitution of Nigeria's National Electoral Commission. | In the statement, they demanded the "total voiding" of the 14 April state elections and the complete disbandment and reconstitution of Nigeria's National Electoral Commission. |
| Nigeria's governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) has won 26 of the 33 states declared so far. | Nigeria's governing People's Democratic Party (PDP) has won 26 of the 33 states declared so far. |
| The opposition parties also urged Nigerians to "protest in a non-violent manner these sham elections so far held, and to resist further elections under the current structure". | The opposition parties also urged Nigerians to "protest in a non-violent manner these sham elections so far held, and to resist further elections under the current structure". |
| The opposition said the electoral commission was under the control of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo. | The opposition said the electoral commission was under the control of outgoing President Olusegun Obasanjo. |
| The opposition coalition includes Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former military head of state Muhammadu Buhari. | The opposition coalition includes Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former military head of state Muhammadu Buhari. |
| They are regarded as the main challengers to Umaru Yar'Adua - the governing party's presidential candidate. | They are regarded as the main challengers to Umaru Yar'Adua - the governing party's presidential candidate. |
| Apart from attempting to discredit the elections, many observers question what the opposition would achieve by boycotting, our correspondent says. | Apart from attempting to discredit the elections, many observers question what the opposition would achieve by boycotting, our correspondent says. |
| There has been a worrying spate of violence, including killings, in the run-up to the polls. | There has been a worrying spate of violence, including killings, in the run-up to the polls. |
| Many Nigerians fear further violence ahead of the vote, which should lead to the first handover of power in Africa's most populous nation from one civilian to another. | Many Nigerians fear further violence ahead of the vote, which should lead to the first handover of power in Africa's most populous nation from one civilian to another. |
| President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in office. | President Obasanjo is standing down after two terms in office. |