16 die in Nigerian cartoon riots

At least 16 people died when violent protests over the Danish cartoon controversy erupted in Nigeria on Saturday.

Police said that 11 churches were burned and Christians were attacked in the northeastern state of Borno and north-central state of Katsina.

Rioters went on a three-hour riot in Maiduguri raging through the city?s streets with machetes, sticks and iron rods before they were stopped by police.

"The army is assisting the police and a curfew has been imposed," a police official said.