Nigeria: Thousands Flee Violence in Maiduguri

Abuja--Thousands of residents in Nigeria’s north-eastern city of Maiduguri are fleeing the area following a wave of recent attacks by the outlawed Islamist sect Boko Haram that have claimed over 40 lives.

The latest attack came on Monday after an explosive planted in a van went off at a military checkpoint in the city. Three people died in the explosion- the driver and two passengers-which police officials have confirmed was carried out by Boko Haram.

There is increasing exodus of people from the city, as bus stops are reported to be overcrowded with people. Some people are leaving on foot with their belongings and livestock.

Authorities of the University of Maiduguri on Monday announced an indefinite closure of the institution over the escalating insecurity in the state, following rumours that the group was planning attacks on the institution.

The institution urged students to stay at home under protection of their parents.

“If anything happens to our students, the university will be held responsible,” said the university spokesman Ahmed Mohammed. “We can no longer guarantee the safety of our students.”

Situation in the campus had grown tense in the past few days ahead of the end-term exams this week following threat letters attributed to the sect.

Troops from a joint police-military task force have been deployed to Maiduguri in a bid to stop further attacks by the sect which is fighting for establishment of an Islamic state. On Saturday 11 people are reported to have been killed in a gun battle between soldiers and Boko Haram members shortly after a bomb attack by the group in the area.

The security forces have been accused of firing indiscriminately and killing civilians after the raids, but the army has denied the claims, accusing some residents of the city of habouring the sect members.

Head of the military task force in Maiduguri, Brigadier General Jack Ukechukwu Nwaogbo, responded to the criticism saying

“Soldiers are not animals who will be killing people indiscriminately. Anybody shot or killed by soldiers must have attacked them or is armed, which means he is part of the group we are out to tackle.”

He told the BBC that the residents have refused to cooperate with the security forces and were hiding and supporting the sect members.

“They are amongst them and they are shielding them. Since that is the situation, our thorough investigation must affect them and not to molest anyone deliberately,” he said.

 The group whose trademark is use of gunmen on motorbikes has vowed to continue with its course if its demands are not met. Last week, Maiduguri banned all motorbikes to prevent drive-by shootings by Boko Haram.

The group which strongly opposes western education which it sees to corrupt Muslims has been responsible for the series of attacks mainly targeting the police.

Despite of a brutal repression from the government that seemed to destroy its network, the group which has been claimed to be having external funding and training has regrouped and has become fierce in its recent attacks.

Tripoli, Libya

French Contacts in Talks with Gaddafi Envoy over Exit

French foreign minister has said that his country has had contacts with emissaries from the embattled Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi concerning his departure from power.

Alaine Juppe ,French Foreign Minister, told the French radio on Tuesday that they [France] were receiving envoys offering to negotiate about Gaddafi’s departure.

“The Libyan regime is sending messengers everywhere, to Turkey, to New York, to Paris,” he said. “We are receiving emissaries who are telling us: 'Gaddafi is prepared to leave. Let's discuss it.”

Juppe added that the negotiation was not proper at this stage though there were contacts. He did not say who the contacts were.

Bernard Valero, French foreign ministry spokesman said “these are emissaries who say they are coming in the name of Gaddafi. What is important is that we send them the same message and stay in close contact with our allies on this.”

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon told the French assembly that a political solution for Libya was more than ever vital and was beginning to take shape. His remarks were followed by a vote to extend the country’s military operation in Libya.

France has been a key player in the establishment of the NATO-led airstrike that sought to implement a UN resolution to protect civilian under threats from Col Gaddafi’s forces.

The move follows after the rebel Transitional National Council (TNC) rejected an African Union (AU) offer to sponsor talks between them and the Gaddafi government during a recent AU summit in Equatorial Guinea.

The rebels rejected the offer saying it didn’t have a set up for departure of Col Gaddafi. The AU had suggested a roadmap that would call for an immediate ceasefire and a transition to democratic elections.

Gaddafi’s son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi confirmed that the Libyan regime was in talks with the French government.

“The truth is that we are negotiating with France and not with the rebels,” Saif al-Islam was quoted saying in the Algerian newspaper -El Khabar on Monday from the capital, Tripoli.

France has denied any shift in its position on Col Gaddafi’s exit and withdrawal of his troops to enable a political solution.

Rebels are holding eastern Libya and pockets in the west, but have so far not made capital use of the NATO backing in their push for Tripoli in the operation that was launched four months ago.