BBC News with Mary Small.
The acting President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan has placed the security forces in the center of the country on full alert following a fresh wave of sectarian violence near the city of Jos. Witnesses say they saw more than 100 corpses, many of them women and children in the village Dogo-Nahawa, just a few kilometers from the city. With more, here is Richard Hamilton.
Reports say the attack happened at about three in the morning local time when gangs of men descended on the village and attacked people with machetes. One eyewitness said he saw scores of dead bodies including those of children. The military which already has a presence in Jos has sent troops to the village. The attack seems to be a reprisal for earlier incidents in January when Christians and Muslims clashed, claiming the lives of at least 200 people and displacing thousands of others.
President Obama has praised the courage of Iraqi voters who turned out to vote in the country's parliamentary elections, despite attacks by insurgent groups which killed at least 35 people. Mr Obama praised the Iraqi authorities for their conduct of the poll and the professionalism of the security forces.
"On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the Iraqi people on their courage throughout this historic election. Today, in the face of violence from those who would only destroy, Iraqis took a step forward in the hard work of building up their country. The United States will continue to help them in that effort as we responsibly end this war, and support the Iraqi people as they take control of their future."