Nigerian south wants more autonomy

The governors of Nigeria's seventeen southern states have called for national resources to be shared more fairly.

They also say they want the Federal constitution amended to allow their states the right to form their own police forces.

The governors issued a joint statement after a one-day meeting yesterday Wednesday in the south-eastern state of Enugu, which was the second of its kind in recent months.

They also expressed concern over the implementation of Islamic Law in northern states, and said it should only apply to Muslims. Correspondents say meetings by the southern states are something new -- and seen as the first signs of growing regional strains.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service