Miss World pageant moved to London  Posted: Saturday, November
23, 2002  KADUNA, Nigeria - The Miss World pageant was canceled
in Nigeria today after about 100 people died in rioting
triggered by the contest and a newspaper's reference to the
prophet Muhammad. Organizers said the event would be held in
London.  The decision followed a third day of battles Friday
between Muslims and Christians, leaving mosques and churches
smoldering and charred bodies laying in the dusty streets.
Organizers said the pageant would be in London on Dec. 7 "in the
overall interests of Nigeria and the contestants." The brief
statement did not elaborate further on reasons for the change of
venue,  The bloodshed was worst in the northern city of Kaduna,
where it started Wednesday, but on Friday it spread to Abuja,
the capital, where the beauty contest was to be held.  Red Cross
officials said about 100 people had been killed and 500 injured
in three days.  Fueling the clashes are long-standing
hostilities between the various tribes