20110418
reuters

KANO, Nigeria (Reuters) - Soldiers patrolled the streets in Nigeria's mostly Muslim north on Tuesday and aid workers began to assess the toll from deadly rioting against President Goodluck Jonathan's election victory.

The Red Cross said many people were killed, hundreds injured and thousands displaced in protests across northern Nigeria on Monday by supporters of Jonathan's northern rival, former army ruler Muhammadu Buhari, who say the election result was rigged.

Churches, homes and shops were razed.

Rescue workers said they had been unable to reach the worst-affected neighbourhoods and could not yet give a death toll, although a curfew imposed across at least five states appeared to have been relaxed to allow some movement.

"Most of central Kano is calming down but we have not yet reached some areas," said Musa Abdullahi of the Red Cross.

A few residents ventured on foot onto the streets of Kano, the most populous city in the north, and of Kaduna. There were hardly any vehicles on the roads.

Christian residents of the two cities who fled to military and police barracks to shelter during the unrest blamed Buhari, whose party has refused to accept election results which say Jonathan won Saturday's election with 59 percent of the vote.

"How can he allege rigging. Jonathan won across the nation. They should accept the results rather than killing and destroying people and property," said Olaoye Ade, who fled with his wife and children to a police barracks in Kano.