Nigeria split over Islamic code

Lagos - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday insisted a decision was reached this week to withdraw Islamic Sharia …

Lagos - Nigeria's President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday insisted a decision was reached this week to withdraw Islamic Sharia law, after hundreds died in clashes, but three northern states insisted on retaining the code.

The northerner and former military ruler Mr Muhammadu Buhari said the pledge to withdraw Sharia legislation had been "extracted" from the northern governors. Meanwhile, the northern states themselves appeared split.