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| Violence mars Nigeria elections | Violence mars Nigeria elections |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Violence and widespread disruption have marred presidential and parliamentary elections being held in Nigeria. | Violence and widespread disruption have marred presidential and parliamentary elections being held in Nigeria. |
| Many of the 120,000 polling stations failed to open for hours and polling was extended in many places beyond the official closing time. | Many of the 120,000 polling stations failed to open for hours and polling was extended in many places beyond the official closing time. |
| There were a number of killings, thefts of ballot boxes and an attempt to blow up the election headquarters. | There were a number of killings, thefts of ballot boxes and an attempt to blow up the election headquarters. |
| Twenty-four candidates are seeking to replace outgoing President Obasanjo in Africa's most-populous nation. | Twenty-four candidates are seeking to replace outgoing President Obasanjo in Africa's most-populous nation. |
| The presidential poll is running alongside elections for the National Assembly and Senate. | The presidential poll is running alongside elections for the National Assembly and Senate. |
| All the major highways were turned into football pitches Fidelis Mbah in Lagos At the polls: Reporters' log | All the major highways were turned into football pitches Fidelis Mbah in Lagos At the polls: Reporters' log |
| European Union election observer Max van den Berg said he feared there may not be an improvement on last week's regional polls, which were marred by 50 deaths and widespread fraud. | European Union election observer Max van den Berg said he feared there may not be an improvement on last week's regional polls, which were marred by 50 deaths and widespread fraud. |
| However, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Maurice Iwu, said that is was a case of "so far so good". | However, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Maurice Iwu, said that is was a case of "so far so good". |
| "We are pleased with the outcome of the polls. Taking in the big picture, Nigerians really demonstrated their commitment to democracy," Professor Iwu said. | "We are pleased with the outcome of the polls. Taking in the big picture, Nigerians really demonstrated their commitment to democracy," Professor Iwu said. |
| All polling stations have now closed but the BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says tension remains high overnight. | All polling stations have now closed but the BBC's David Bamford in Abuja says tension remains high overnight. |
| Election officials hope to publish results by late on Monday. | Election officials hope to publish results by late on Monday. |
| The new government is scheduled to take power on 29 May. | The new government is scheduled to take power on 29 May. |
| Cutlasses | Cutlasses |
| The officials had struggled to deliver some of the 60m ballot papers to stations ahead of opening time. | The officials had struggled to deliver some of the 60m ballot papers to stations ahead of opening time. |
| NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders: | NIGERIAN ELECTION 60m registered voters120,000 ballot boxes360 House of Representative seats to be elected109 Senate seats to be elected24 presidential candidates Main contenders: |
| In the central state of Nassarawa, close to the capital, Abuja, a number of policeman were killed while escorting election officials with the papers. | In the central state of Nassarawa, close to the capital, Abuja, a number of policeman were killed while escorting election officials with the papers. |
| Police fired on crowds in the northern state of Katsina, the home state of both the governing party candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and one of his main opponents, Muhammadu Buhari. | Police fired on crowds in the northern state of Katsina, the home state of both the governing party candidate, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and one of his main opponents, Muhammadu Buhari. |
| Four people were killed in clashes there after only half the voting papers arrived. | Four people were killed in clashes there after only half the voting papers arrived. |
| In nearby Kano, men armed with cutlasses and guns stole ballot boxes while in Onde state, in the south-west, men disguised as policemen abducted election officials. | In nearby Kano, men armed with cutlasses and guns stole ballot boxes while in Onde state, in the south-west, men disguised as policemen abducted election officials. |
| The most audacious attempt to disrupt polling was on Friday when a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in the failed attack on the electoral commission's headquarters in Abuja. | The most audacious attempt to disrupt polling was on Friday when a petrol tanker laden with gas cylinders was used in the failed attack on the electoral commission's headquarters in Abuja. |
| The attackers tried to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but the vehicle missed its target, crashed into a lamp post and came to a halt. | The attackers tried to roll the unmanned tanker into the building, but the vehicle missed its target, crashed into a lamp post and came to a halt. |
| Street protest | Street protest |
| President Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power. | President Obasanjo said despite flaws, Nigeria could achieve a peaceful and democratic handover of power. |
| The more thugs you have, the more votes you have Sha'aya'u Aminu, 23, student href="/1/hi/world/africa/6579863.stm">Voters' views | |
| Speaking after voting, he said that "those who do not want these elections to take place, they have left no stone unturned to make sure it does not hold". | Speaking after voting, he said that "those who do not want these elections to take place, they have left no stone unturned to make sure it does not hold". |
| Mr Buhari said no-one should claim victory because there were so many irregularities in polling. | Mr Buhari said no-one should claim victory because there were so many irregularities in polling. |
| He said he would call his supporters out on to the streets if the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared victory. | He said he would call his supporters out on to the streets if the governing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) declared victory. |
| Rival candidate Atiku Abubakar had even before the vote said he would go to court as soon as the PDP was declared the winner. | Rival candidate Atiku Abubakar had even before the vote said he would go to court as soon as the PDP was declared the winner. |
| His Action Congress party said after polling: "In every state where the party has a large followership, [the election commission] deliberately ensured inadequate supply of voting materials." | His Action Congress party said after polling: "In every state where the party has a large followership, [the election commission] deliberately ensured inadequate supply of voting materials." |
| The voting in Nassarawa State has been very peaceful Dr Samuel Jimba in Keffi At the polls: Voters' log | The voting in Nassarawa State has been very peaceful Dr Samuel Jimba in Keffi At the polls: Voters' log |
| Our correspondent says the comments show Nigeria could be in for some political turbulence as it seeks for the first time to replace one elected civilian head of state with another. | Our correspondent says the comments show Nigeria could be in for some political turbulence as it seeks for the first time to replace one elected civilian head of state with another. |
| Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East. | Nigeria is one of the world's biggest oil producers. It is of key strategic interest to both the West and the growing economies of the East. |
| But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty. | But despite the country's huge oil wealth, tens of millions live in poverty. |
| Send us your voting experiences by texting +44 77 86 20 50 75. Don't forget to tell us your name and where you are. | Send us your voting experiences by texting +44 77 86 20 50 75. Don't forget to tell us your name and where you are. |