Ola Awoniyi

Nigeria's Parliament is pushing ahead with a Bill that would harshly crack down on gay rights despite moves from abroad to counter such legislation.

Côte d'Ivoire strongman Laurent Gbagbo has agreed to negotiate a resolution to the crisis gripping the nation, mediators said on Tuesday.

West African leaders decided to meet for emergency talks on the crisis in Côte d'Ivoire as strongman Laurent Gbagbo resists calls to step aside.

Nigerian intelligence authorities said they are holding nine people believed to have links with an ex-militant leader already arrested.

Nigerian police said on Sunday car bombers had intended to "commit mass murder" and distributed photos and other details of the two suspects.

Nigerian authorities hunted oil militants on Saturday who claimed responsibility for two car bombs that killed at least 12 people.

Nigerian acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday dissolved the Cabinet, asserting his power a little over a month after taking over.

Nigeria's president returned on Wednesday after a stay in hospital fueling concern about fresh turmoil but his deputy said all was "on course".

Nigeria's Vice-President, Goodluck Jonathan, took office as acting head of state on Tuesday from ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua.

Nigeria's Parliament on Tuesday voted to suspend ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua and hand power to his deputy until he is well enough to resume.

Lawyers have petitioned a Nigerian court to install President Umaru Yar'Adua's deputy as acting president until the leader returns from hospital.

''I did my best,'' Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo said in an interview with the media as he looked back on eight years in office and rejected foreign and domestic criticism of the country's flawed polls last weekend. ''The day I meet God I'll tell him: not everything was perfect, but I did my best,'' the president said in his office late on Wednesday.