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Nigeria riot city 'under control' Nigeria riot city 'under control'
(about 9 hours later)
The Nigerian army says it has regained control of the city of Jos, where fighting between Muslims and Christians in recent days has left scores dead.The Nigerian army says it has regained control of the city of Jos, where fighting between Muslims and Christians in recent days has left scores dead.
Lt Col Shekari Galadima told the BBC the city was "very calm" as the army was enforcing a 24-hour curfew. He insisted there would be no more riots.Lt Col Shekari Galadima told the BBC the city was "very calm" as the army was enforcing a 24-hour curfew. He insisted there would be no more riots.
But a BBC reporter in the region says the violence has now spread to Pankshin town, 100km (60 miles) from Jos.But a BBC reporter in the region says the violence has now spread to Pankshin town, 100km (60 miles) from Jos.
Rights groups say at least 200 people are believed to have died since Sunday. Religious officials said at least 265 people had died since Sunday.
Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade. Among the dead were said to be 65 Christians and 200 Muslims.
At least 200 people were killed in an outbreak of fighting between Muslims and Christians in 2008, while some 1,000 died in a riot in 2001. At least 265 people are believed to have died in Jos
Food fears Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a senior mosque official organising mass burials, gave a much higher death toll - telling Reuters news agency more than 350 Muslims had died.
He said the death toll had risen as workers retrieved bodies from areas outside the city of Jos on Wednesday.
The figures could not be independently verified.
Jos has been blighted by religious violence over the past decade with deadly riots in 2001 and 2008.
The city is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follow traditional religions.
Violence spreading
Col Galadima told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Jos city "has been brought under control tremendously".Col Galadima told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Jos city "has been brought under control tremendously".
Jos resident describes violence
"Because of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government, movement has been restricted so you cannot have any riots or any demonstrations going on," he said."Because of the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government, movement has been restricted so you cannot have any riots or any demonstrations going on," he said.
Buildings and vehicles were set alight during the riots The Associated Press reported that soldiers with machine guns were patrolling in pick-up trucks and residents were stopping and raising their hands to show they were not a threat as the trucks passed.
"Our troops in combination with the police are fully deployed and fully on the ground to check all movements." Meanwhile, the BBC Hausa Service's Shehu Saulawa says the violence appears to have spread to the town of Pankshin.
The Associated Press reported that soldiers with machine guns were patrolled the streets of Jos in the back of pick-up trucks. On Wednesday morning, one resident of Pankshin told our reporter by telephone the fighting began at 2230 (2130 GMT) on Tuesday.
Residents were stopping and raising their hands to show they were not a threat as the trucks passed, according to AP. He said the unrest had continued into Wednesday morning but no soldiers could be seen on the streets.
The BBC Hausa service's Shehu Saulawa says the violence appears to have spread much further than was previously thought - to the town of Pankshin. Another family told the BBC they had fled the town to neighbouring Bauchi State to escape the violence.
He says reports claim public buildings in the town have been set alight, places of worship have been burnt and locals are appealing for the security forces to intervene. But Plateau State spokesman Dan Manjang dismissed the accounts from Pankshin as "rumours".
Roadblocks have been set up on roads leading out of Plateau State and Christian and Muslim leaders have appealed for calm.
'Little faith''Little faith'
The Red Cross, which was unable to get into Jos on Tuesday, says its workers have begun to treat the wounded. The Red Cross, which was unable to get into Jos on Tuesday, said its workers had begun to treat the wounded.
JOS, PLATEAU STATE Deadly riots in 2001 and 2008City divided into Christian and Muslim areas Divisions accentuated by system of classifying people as indigenes and settlers Hausa-speaking Muslims living in Jos for decades are still classified as settlers Settlers find it difficult to stand for electionDivisions also exist along party lines: Christians mostly back the ruling PDP; Muslims generally supporting the opposition ANPP
Rights groups have expressed fears that people are running short of food because they are confined to their homes as part of the 24-hour curfew.Rights groups have expressed fears that people are running short of food because they are confined to their homes as part of the 24-hour curfew.
And about 5,000 people have fled the violence and are using army barracks and public buildings as temporary accommodation. And at least 5,000 people have fled the violence and are using army barracks and public buildings as temporary accommodation.
The Jos-based League for Human Rights said people have little faith in the security forces to restore order.The Jos-based League for Human Rights said people have little faith in the security forces to restore order.
The group's Shamaki Gad told the BBC that no-one had been prosecuted for participating in previous religious and ethnic clashes.The group's Shamaki Gad told the BBC that no-one had been prosecuted for participating in previous religious and ethnic clashes.
Jos is in Nigeria's volatile Middle Belt - between the mainly Muslim north and the south where the majority is Christian or follow traditional religions.
Football row?
Correspondents say such clashes in Nigeria are often blamed on sectarianism.Correspondents say such clashes in Nigeria are often blamed on sectarianism.
However, poverty and access to resources such as land often lie at the root of the violence.However, poverty and access to resources such as land often lie at the root of the violence.
It is unclear what the trigger was for the latest bout of violence. It is unclear what the trigger was for the latest bout of violence, but there have been reports it started after football match.
Plateau State spokesman Dan Manjang told Network Africa there were reports that it may have started after a football match. Other reports suggested it began after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes.
But he said it would be surprising if football was the reason.
Reuters quoted residents as saying the violence started after an argument over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes.