Former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has appealed for calm amid outbursts of violence that trailed last Saturday’s presidential election.

Abubakar speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Washington D.C on the sideline of a meeting of the AU special panel for Sudan, headed by former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, described the the riots in some states in the northern part of the country after the presidential election as “unfortunate’’ and expressed the hope that the relevant authorities would curtail it.

`Not only in the northern Nigeria, but every Nigerian must try and be our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.

“Violence does not bring solution to any problem and all we need to do is to sit down and talk and discuss.’’

Abubakar declined to give any personal assessment of the presidential election amid allegations of irregularities by opposition parties.

“I have been here (U.S), so I would know what has happened before I can make a comment.

“But from what I saw from the first election, I think a lot of work has been put into preparation of the election.’’

Mbeki also declined to comment on the Nigerian presidential election, saying “I have no view on that. I have been too engaged with Sudan.’’

NAN reports that at an earlier meeting between the AU panel and U.S. government, Vice- President Joe Biden, expressed “great concern” that security conditions in Darfur had continued to deteriorate just months before Sudan is to split into separate states.

“The vice-president underscored the importance of ensuring the establishment of two viable states in Sudan after the south’s independence in July and stressed that a resolution to the situation in Darfur must be part of that process,’’ a statement issued after the meeting said.

Abubakar and former Burundian president Pierre Buyoya, both of whom are members of the Sudan panel attended the meeting.