Kano, July 12: Demonstrations Friday against U.S. President George W. Bush`s visit to Nigeria drew thousands in this largely Muslim northern city, where protesters in flowing white and black robes waived signs saying "Death to America" and "Infidels leave Iraq."

Riot police fired tear gas to disperse about 80 protesters, marching in the morning without authorization in Kano, about 430 km north of the capital, Abuja. At least 26 people were arrested.

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In the afternoon, thousands more poured into the streets after afternoon prayers at the city`s mosques, shouting and waving anti-Bush signs.

Local Shiite cleric Mohammed Turi addressed the crowd, accusing President Olusegun Obasanjo of being a U.S. "puppet" and accepting the recolonization of Nigeria.

"We hereby call on all Muslims and citizens to boldly reject this unwanted visit," he said.

Riot police kept a distance in the afternoon, and the march ended peacefully.

Bush, who arrived in Abuja late Friday on the last leg of a five-nation African tour, was not scheduled to visit Kano, an opposition stronghold which has been the scene of bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians.

Nigeria, Africa`s most populous country, is divided between a predominantly Muslim north and a largely Christian south.

In the capital, security was tight for Bush`s visit. Police helicopters circled the city, and officers with bomb detectors combed the 45-km route Bush was taking from the airport to a plush hotel.

About 2,000 police have been deployed for the visit, police spokesman Nendel Gomwalk said.

Some drove street hawkers away, arresting several and confiscating their wares.

"Maybe they don`t want Bush to know there are poor people in this city," said one vendor, Emeka Okanwa, as he bundled up the telephone handsets he was selling and fled. Bureau Report