Boko Haram Denies Kano Bombings

The leader of Nigeria's Boko Haram islamist militants has denied killing civilians in last week's Kano bombings, in which 185 people died. 

In a message posted on youtube, Abubakar Shekau blamed the deaths of "innocent civilians" on Nigeria's security forces. 

In his 40-minute audio message, Mr. Shekau also threatened to carry out a bombing campaign against Nigeria's secondary schools and universities - unless security forces stopped what he claimed was a series of recent attacks on islamic schools or Madrassas in Maiduguri. 

Mr. Shekau reiterated claims that the Nigerian government would not be able to stop Boko Haram - and demanded the release from prison of all its members.