Demonstrations Nigeria

At least 19 people have been shot dead in ethnic Ijaw areas since the expiration of an ultimatum to oil firms to leave, witnesses said Friday. Militant Ijaw youths alleging pollution and deprivation of wealth demanded that oil company workers leave by Dec. 30, at which time clashes erupted between soldiers and protesters in Yenegoa, capital of the country's biggest oil-producing state, Bayelsa. "Between yesterday and today, about 12 people have died and the protests have continued.

The military government deployed more troops in the oil-producing Niger River Delta, where youth protests are threatening the nation's revenue base. Residents said military checkpoints were set up in the area, where up to 26 people have died in a week of protests by ethnic Ijaw youths demanding a greater share of the region's wealth.

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was met on arrival in Nigeria by demonstrators protesting her opposition to economic sanctions against South Africa. Several hundred people at the Lagos airport waved banners saying "Thatcher Go Home" and tore up British flags. Nigerian President Ibrahim Babangida also referred to the issue in welcoming remarks. Thatcher responded that she and her critics disagree on means, not ends.

At least 19 people have been shot dead in ethnic Ijaw areas since the expiration of an ultimatum to oil firms to leave, witnesses said Friday. Militant Ijaw youths alleging pollution and deprivation of wealth demanded that oil company workers leave by Dec. 30, at which time clashes erupted between soldiers and protesters in Yenegoa, capital of the country's biggest oil-producing state, Bayelsa. "Between yesterday and today, about 12 people have died and the protests have continued.

Nigerian police fired into a crowd of thousands Friday when a rally to demand Gen. Sani Abacha's ouster turned into a violent rampage. Witnesses said seven people were killed. Three bodies were lying in the streets of the southern city of Ibadan after the shooting, witnesses said. The shooting began after the crowd began setting cars, shops and houses ablaze.

Strikes over gasoline price hikes closed Lagos' international airport on Friday, grounding domestic and international flights and stranding thousands of travelers, Radio Nigeria reported. A modest price increase on April 10 for gasoline and other petroleum products sparked student riots and other protests leading to a wave of strikes in northern cities, which spread to the capital on Thursday.

The military government deployed more troops in the oil-producing Niger River Delta, where youth protests are threatening the nation's revenue base. Residents said military checkpoints were set up in the area, where up to 26 people have died in a week of protests by ethnic Ijaw youths demanding a greater share of the region's wealth.

This loud, chaotic city of 6 million people was desolate and silent Thursday except for the whir of army helicopters and clomp of combat boots worn by edgy soldiers. Nearly everyone in Lagos appeared to heed a national strike to protest the nullification of an election that was to return Nigeria to civilian rule after a decade of military dictatorship. Nigeria's second-biggest city, Ibadan, 80 miles north of Lagos, was also at a virtual standstill, residents said.

Some cars and taxis returned to the streets of Lagos, but Nigeria's largest city stayed relatively quiet for the second day of a three-day nationwide strike protesting the military dictatorship's refusal to cede power. Supermarkets, banks and factories were shut, and most major bus and train terminals were empty. A few residents ventured to work after the government warned Thursday night that it would fire absent workers, but many returned home after signing in.

Nigerian police fired into a crowd of thousands Friday when a rally to demand Gen. Sani Abacha's ouster turned into a violent rampage. Witnesses said seven people were killed. Three bodies were lying in the streets of the southern city of Ibadan after the shooting, witnesses said. The shooting began after the crowd began setting cars, shops and houses ablaze.

Some cars and taxis returned to the streets of Lagos, but Nigeria's largest city stayed relatively quiet for the second day of a three-day nationwide strike protesting the military dictatorship's refusal to cede power. Supermarkets, banks and factories were shut, and most major bus and train terminals were empty. A few residents ventured to work after the government warned Thursday night that it would fire absent workers, but many returned home after signing in.

This loud, chaotic city of 6 million people was desolate and silent Thursday except for the whir of army helicopters and clomp of combat boots worn by edgy soldiers. Nearly everyone in Lagos appeared to heed a national strike to protest the nullification of an election that was to return Nigeria to civilian rule after a decade of military dictatorship. Nigeria's second-biggest city, Ibadan, 80 miles north of Lagos, was also at a virtual standstill, residents said.

Thousands of Nigerians, angry at the choice of a new sultan to lead the country's 50 million Muslims, rioted in a northwestern town, burning government offices and freeing 2,000 prisoners. State-run Radio Nigeria mentioned no casualties and did not estimate damage in three days of rioting and demonstrations in Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim town 465 miles north of the capital of Lagos.

Strikes over gasoline price hikes closed Lagos' international airport on Friday, grounding domestic and international flights and stranding thousands of travelers, Radio Nigeria reported. A modest price increase on April 10 for gasoline and other petroleum products sparked student riots and other protests leading to a wave of strikes in northern cities, which spread to the capital on Thursday.