Nigeria election: Minister 'confident' poll will happen

Nigeria's interior minister believes the fight against Boko Haram will be successful enough for the postponed elections to go ahead, he told the BBC.

Abbo Moro said he had been advised by the military that enough troops would be available in six weeks' time to secure the presidential ballot.

Officials say they delayed the vote to 28 March because troops needed for security are fighting the militants.

Opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari has made a plea for calm.

But he said the independence of Nigeria's electoral commission had been "gravely compromised" by the decision to postpone the elections.

Meanwhile Boko Haram on Monday launched a third attack in four days on neighbouring Niger, targeting a prison in the border region of Diffa.

The militant group, which killed at least one person in a similar attack on Sunday, were reportedly pushed back after clashing with Nigerian forces.

Saturday's decision to postpone the presidential poll was welcomed by the ruling party of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan though the US said it was "disappointed".

Parliamentary elections due to take place on 14 February have also been postponed to 28 March, and elections for state governors and assemblies slated for 28 February have been moved to 11 April.