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Six die in Nigeria voting clashes Six die in Nigeria voting clashes
(about 7 hours later)
Police in Nigeria say six people have been killed in clashes linked to local governmental elections in the northern state of Kano.Police in Nigeria say six people have been killed in clashes linked to local governmental elections in the northern state of Kano.
Kano police commissioner Mohammed Aminu Yesafu said his officers had arrested dozens of people and recovered weapons including guns and machetes.Kano police commissioner Mohammed Aminu Yesafu said his officers had arrested dozens of people and recovered weapons including guns and machetes.
Violence erupted between government supporters and opposition party members as election results started to come in.Violence erupted between government supporters and opposition party members as election results started to come in.
Voters in Kano cast ballots on Saturday for local constituency leaders.Voters in Kano cast ballots on Saturday for local constituency leaders.
"We have arrested 254 persons across the state for crimes ranging from assault (and) burning of government properties to killing," said Mr Yesafu, confirming the six deaths."We have arrested 254 persons across the state for crimes ranging from assault (and) burning of government properties to killing," said Mr Yesafu, confirming the six deaths.
"Violence erupted spontaneously in all the local government areas following disagreements between political party supporters," Reuters news agency reported him as saying."Violence erupted spontaneously in all the local government areas following disagreements between political party supporters," Reuters news agency reported him as saying.
In October, the New York-based group Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that violence and electoral fraud had made a mockery of Nigeria's democracy. The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says although these are only local elections, political office in Nigeria means the prospect of considerable money and power, so political violence is never far away.
International observers criticised Nigeria's national elections in April as "not credible" after evidence of widespread vote-rigging and intimidation. Kano state is one of the few in the country that is governed by the opposition.
The country is one of the world's most corrupt countries. So it was supporters of Nigeria's ruling party who said the results were rigged and decided to vent their anger.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has promised a zero tolerance approach to corruption. Kano is now said to be relatively calm, but there are more results to come and there is concern the violence could flare again.
Our correspondent says that after the chaos, sponsored violence and massive vote-rigging of Nigeria's general elections in April, the president pledged to reform the electoral system.
But he says for now, at least, nothing has changed.