Warnings of anti-Muslim violence by Christians in Nigeria
-21/02/06

Nigeria's main Christian body has said that Christians may retaliate after Muslim rioters killed dozens of Christians and torched churches.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which says 50 people died in anti-Christian rioting in the northern city of Maiduguri at the weekend, described the violence as part of a Muslim plan to turn Nigeria into an Islamic state.

Rioting also broke out in two other predominantly Muslim northern cities in the past days. In Katsina, the Red Cross said seven people were killed, while in Bauchi a Reuters eyewitness saw 10 dead bodies on the streets and several burnt churches.

In a statement, the controversial Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola, known to many across the world for his outspoken statements about homosexuality said; "May we at this stage remind our Muslim brothers that they do not have the monopoly of violence in this nation". The rest