Nigerian leader rejects change to Islam

ABUJA, Nigeria, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram said it would not negotiate with the government, and called on the Nigerian president to resign and accept Islam.

In a half-hour video posted on YouTube, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau offered no explanation of the group's demands or positions, but claimed some people in Nigeria were committing evil acts in its name, the news agency Allafrica reported Monday.

The group, prevalent in northeast Nigeria, has been accused of terrorism against Christians, and the call on the video for President Goodluck Jonathan to convert from Christianity to Islam was considered laughable by Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan's special adviser on media and publicity.

"It amounts to sheer blackmail for any individual or group to ask the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to convert to Islam. The president cannot be intimidated by any group or individual," Abati said.