Several die in Nigerian election violence

SEVERAL people died in election violence in Nigeria’s oil-rich delta as President Olusegun Obasanjo’s party stretched its lead in results of parliamentary polls.

There were at least five killings at the weekend in the Niger Delta, amid reports of the navy and army clashing with ethnic militants. It augured badly for the April 19 presidential election in Africa's most populous state.

Nationwide at least 10 people died in election violence but foreign observers said they were relieved the toll was not worse.