Britain will work with next Nigerian leader -Blair

LAGOS, May 17 (Reuters) Former colonial power Britain will work with the next government of Nigeria, Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a letter to President Olusegun Obasanjo released today, despite rigging in last month's elections.

Obasanjo's office issued a press release containing excerpts of the letter in which Blair praises ''important progress'' achieved by Obasanjo, who will stand down for President-elect Umaru Yar'Adua on May 29.

''We are keen to work with the new administration on reform and governance, democracy, development and other areas of cooperation which we have developed over the last eight years,'' Obasanjo's office quoted the letter as saying, adding that Blair was looking forward to an early meeting with Yar'Adua to discuss future cooperation.

Blair will resign as prime minister on June 27 and will be replaced by his finance minister, Gordon Brown.

Diplomatic sources said the release failed to mention a reference to the fact that European and international observers were concerned over evidence of fraud in the poll and that electoral tribunals should be allowed to do their job properly.

International observers said vote rigging and violence were so widespread that the elections were not credible and did not meet international standards.

There was no immediate comment from Downing Street or the British High Commission in Nigeria.

Official results gave the ruling People's Democratic Party a landslide victory but dozens of candidates for legislators' and state governors' posts are contesting them in court.

Opposition protests have been met with tear gas and arrests by police. Unions are planning a two-day sit-at-home protest on May 28 and 29, but the opposition is divided.

There has been silence from the major Western powers after Yar'Adua was declared winner in the poll that had been billed as marking the first fully democratic transition in a country still scarred by decades of military dictatorship.

Washington has also said it would work with any future Nigerian government, but has yet to send a congratulatory message to Yar'Adua.

It is unclear what level of representation the two powers will send to the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on May 29.

Many Nigerians see the flawed poll as the price to be paid for a transfer of power from one civilian leader to another, which would be unprecedented in Africa's most populous nation and largest oil producer.

Reuters SM VP0330