Brussels, 16/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - Despite progress made, a number of urgent problems relating to human rights remain in Nigeria, which is a country undermined by corruption, arbitrary arrest and torture, extrajudicial executions and political violence, the EP notes in a resolution of the EPP-ED Group adopted on Thursday by 36 votes to 24 and one abstention. MEPs call on the Nigerian government to take effective measures immediately to deal with this kind of violence and above all to abolish the death penalty and intervene in individual cases of persons sentenced under the Sharia law to death, as well as to amputation, flogging and other inhumane and degrading treatments. They invite the Nigerian government not to adopt the same sex marriage prohibition act in its curernt form. With a view to the national elections in April 2006, all parties should publicly state thei resolve to put an end to the violence, to executions, intimidation and other human rights violations, the EP recommends. (ab)