[08/March/2010]

UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Saba) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he was "deeply concerned" by further inter-religious violence in the Nigerian central town of Jos, with "appalling" loss of life, and appealed to the local leaders to find a final solution soon, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

"I appeal to all concerned to exercise maximum restraint. Nigeria's political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos," Ban told reporters upon return from a trip to quake-stricken Chile.

Sunday's attacks, reportedly by Muslims against Christians, were seen as a reprisal for attacks last January by Christians against Muslims.

The dominant religion in the north of Nigeria is Islam, while the dominant religion in the south is Christianity.

Saba