Nigerian Riots Leave Charred Corpses, Houses, Cars

The deadly rioting following Nigeria's presidential election has gotten worse: Mobs yesterday ran the streets of Kaduna, which separates the country's Muslim north from the Christian south, burning homes, churches, and police stations and leaving charred bodies in the streets. The AP reports that Muslim rioters started the violence, some carrying machetes and poison-tipped arrows, but Christians were quick to retaliate. Officers found 31 corpses in Kaduna alone, and the commissioner says more are sure to be found.

More than 300 people were arrested during the riots, and many citizens stayed inside yesterday as soldiers and helicopters patrolled the area. Despite the curfews put in place in many areas, the unrest will likely continue through next Tuesday's gubernatorial elections. The US called Saturday's election "a significant improvement" over the corrupt 2007 election and observers said it largely appeared to be fair, but accusations of rigging are on the rise after results showed that Goodluck Jonathan had a lead of more than 10 million votes over Muslim candidate Muhammadu Buhari. (More Goodluck Jonathan stories.)