Police in Nigeria's largest city, Lagos, have shot dead at least five protesters during unrest as a general strike enters its second week, union officials say. Police have not confirmed the deaths and deny responsibility for the violence. However, a BBC reporter in Lagos, the commercial capital, said one funeral had already taken place. Local television showed pictures of bodies said to be those of strikers killed during an attempt by police to clear a roadblock. Our reporter, Sola Odunfa, says Lagos is a city in anger, that has come to a standstill. Union leaders are holding out against a compromise offer from the Nigerian Government on fuel prices, which were increased by more than 50 percent after the government ended a subsidy on refined oil products. The violence comes days before a visit to Nigeria by US President George W Bush. **Confusion*** There is confusion over what happened in Lagos. Union officials there said five people had been killed, but in the capital, Abuja, strike leader Adams Oshiomhole told a news conference more than 10 people had been "confirmed" killed by the police. "This is despicable and unacceptable," Mr Oshiomhole said. Police are reported to have opened fire to disperse rioters who had set up burning barricades and smashed car windscreens, leaving hundreds of workers attempting to leave the area stranded at bus stops. Pump prices on petrol have shot up from 26 naira (20 US cents) per litre to 40, triggering a wave of public anger and a huge black market. The government has now said it is willing to limit the increase to 35%. But this has been rejected by the main union organisation, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The difference between the government offer and the price that is acceptable to the unions is said to be as little as three naira per litre. The white collar Trade Union Congress (TUC), which represents some senior employees, urged its members to go back to work on Monday. **Little difference*** But the general secretary of the NLC told the BBC that the TUC was irrelevant as far as they were concerned and the action would go on. The strike appeared to be holding in the commercial capital, Lagos, and in the capital, Abuja, with few people turning up for work. Our Nigeria correspondent, Dan Isaacs, says the widespread response to the strike has highlighted a deep resentment among Nigerians that the government, so soon after winning an election, has dramatically increased the price of fuel and along with it, eroded their real incomes. Government officials said the fuel hikes were necessary to end shortages and curb the smuggling of cheap Nigerian fuel to neighbouring countries. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Police were deployed in major cities and towns to deal with protesters as the courts declared the strike illegal, AP