The Nigerian House of Representatives has rejected President Goodluck Jonathan's request to extend the state of emergency in three northeastern states, where the army has been battling the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. The country's main opposition party said the special powers had completely failed at curbing the Islamist violence in the region and have expired. However, the president remains free to deploy troops "to trouble spots" in the country. Security forces fired tear gas inside parliament Thursday in a clash with at least 200 supporters of House speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who the police wanted to keep from coming into the building for the vote. One person there said the main lobby outside the House chamber filled with tear gas as people choked and looked for a way outside. Eventually, a closed door meeting of some lawmakers was organized with the speaker and it was decided not to renew the special powers requested by the president, but no vote was taken.