Nigerian asylum seeker Ireland's first black mayor

DUBLIN, June 28 (Reuters) A political asylum seeker from Nigeria became Ireland's first black mayor today, seven years after he fled religious persecution in his homeland.

Rotimi Adebari, 43, was elected mayor in a six to three vote by his fellow town councillors in Portlaoise in central Ireland, broadcaster RTE reported on its Web site.

Green Party leader and junior Agriculture Minister Trevor Sargent said Adebari's story of ''fleeing religious persecution in Nigeria and creating a new, productive life for himself and his family in Ireland, is extremely inspiring''.

Irish society, which until the 1990s was largely homogenous, white and Roman Catholic, is changing fast as a thriving economy attracts tens of thousands of immigrants every year.

Foreign nationals now make up almost 14 per cent of Ireland's work force versus 7 per cent just four years ago.

Sargent said he hoped Adebari ''achieves his mission of dispelling prejudices and fostering a greater understanding of, and engagement with, immigrant communities in Ireland''.

Reuters KK VP0103