July 2, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 1,1424

ABUJA/LAGOS, July 1: Police firing teargas battled demonstrators in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, on Tuesday, the second day of violent protests over fuel prices rises which have left eight people dead, witnesses said.

The general strike kept seaports, banks, shops and petrol stations shut in the world’s eighth biggest oil exporter — raising fears of a prolonged walkout that could hit exports of Nigeria’s mainstay crude oil.

Negotiations between the government and the umbrella Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) were pushed back twice on Tuesday after riot police fired tear gas at picketing union leaders.

NLC President Adams Oshiomhole sought refuge inside a government office as tear gas smoke engulfed the complex housing federal government departments in the inland capital.

Hundreds of chanting civil servants, hurling abuse at police, escorted him to his car. The government forced its workers to report for duty by issuing a “no-work-no-pay” order.

“We have sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police complaining about police brutalities,” Oshiomhole said. “Police have beaten up quite a number of our people, even myself I was tear gassed today.”

“There are reports of people who have been shot, and this shooting was completely avoidable,” Oshiomhole said. “Journalists were beaten and their cameras destroyed. One is in hospital.”

Police in heavy body armour stormed picket lines after NLC militants blocked the main entrance to the federal offices.

Police said security forces shot dead four people and four others were killed by a speeding vehicle in street protests that launched the general strike on Monday.—Reuters