UN chief condemns deadly Muslim-Christian violence in Nigeria

Dec 27, 2010, 7:20 GMT

New York - UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned Christmas Eve attacks on Christian communities that the African Union said left 38 people dead in central Nigeria.

Several bombs exploded in and around the city of Jos, and dozens of raiders attacked a church in the town of Maiduguri in a region that has sees repeated flare-ups of violence between Muslim and Christian communities.

'The secretary general is appalled by the violence that caused the loss of so many innocent lives in the Plateau and Borno states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,' a UN spokesman said Sunday.

'He condemns these deplorable acts of violence, especially at a time when millions of Nigerians are celebrating religious holidays, and supports efforts by the Nigerian authorities to bring those responsible to justice,' he said.

Jean Ping, chairwoman of the African Union commission, called the attacks 'cowardly' and said the union was committed to fighting terrorism.

The bombings sparked clashes in Jos, which continued Sunday as buildings were set on fire.

Jos and surrounding towns and villages have been the scene of brutal violence over the past few years. Around 700 people were killed in the first few months of 2010.

The violence appeared to be sectarian, but some observers said its real roots lie in the battle for resources between the indigenous Christians and settler Hausa-Fulani Muslim communities from the north.

The renewed unrest occurred as President Goodluck Jonathan aims to secure the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) nomination to run in upcoming elections.

Jonathan, a Christian southerner, came to power this year after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua, a Muslim from the north.

His ascension to power upset a PDP agreement stipulating that the party candidacy should be rotated between the mainly Muslim north and Christian south every two terms.

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