Blast At Church In Nigeria Kills At Least 19

At least 19 people have died in a bomb blast outside a catholic church during Christmas mass in Nigeria's capital.
Witnesses described a huge explosion from the direction of St Theresa's Church in Madala, on the outskirts of Abuja.
National emergency management agency spokesman Yushau Shuaib said it is likely the death toll will rise.
He said at least 10 bodies have been recovered from the scene and officials are still searching through the debris.
"The evacuation exercise is still going on as military personnel provide security cover to rescue officers providing humanitarian services due to the tension in the area from an angry crowd," Mr Shuaib said.
He added: "We are presently there, evacuating the dead and the injured but unfortunately we don't have enough ambulances.
"Most of our ambulances have gone to operate on the major highways of the country."
There is no immediate claim of responsibility.
Meanwhile, a second explosion has been reported close to a church in the town of Jos in restive central Nigeria.
Nigeria has been hit by a string of bomb blasts and shootings attributed to Muslim sect Boko Haram.
The group claimed responsibility for the August suicide bombing of the UN headquarters in Abuja that killed at least 24 people.
Boko Haram wants to implement strict Shariah law across Nigeria, an oil-rich nation of more than 160 million people.
The north of the country is predominantly Muslim and the south has a mainly Christian population.
Boko Haram's name means "Western education is sacrilege" in the local Hausa language.
However, instead of schooling, it rejects Western ideals like Nigeria's US-styled democracy that followers believe have destroyed the country with corrupt politicians.
Most recently, in three cities in the north east - where most of the violence attributed to Boko Haram has occurred - attacks blamed on the sect followed by a heavy military crackdown killed up to 100 people, authorities and a rights group have said.
The chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, was quoted by local media as saying soldiers killed 59 sect members in Damaturu. Shootouts had taken place on Thursday and Friday.