A round-up of today's other news in brief
Spanish Socialists to lose grip - poll
MADRID – Spain’s Socialists are set to lose a May election in all the regions it currently governs, after high unemployment and an unpopular austerity drive, a poll out yesterday showed.
The conservative Popular Party would win with a clear majority in Socialist regions Castille-La Mancha, the Balearic Islands and Cantabria, the Sigma Dos poll in right-leaning newspaper El Mundo showed.
It would also be close to an absolute majority in Extremadura, ruled by the Socialists for 28 years. The parliamentary vote in 13 of Spain’s 17 regions coincides with municipal elections in much of the country on May 22nd. – (Reuters)
Nigerian riots claim 500 lives, says group
LAGOS - More than 500 people were killed in post-election violence last week in the mostly Muslim north, a Nigerian human rights group said yesterday.
Youths launched protests in northern towns and cities after president Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south, was declared the victor of an April 16th election, defeating former military ruler and northern Muslim Muhammadu Buhari.
Observers and many Nigerians say the vote was the most credible in Africa’s most populous nation for decades. Nigeria’s Civil Rights Congress said more than 500 people were killed on Monday and Tuesday in three towns alone – Zonkwa, Kafanchan and Zangon Kataf. – (Reuters)