Pope Benedict XVI has used his
weekly address to an audience at
the Vatican to call for an end to
"terrorist attacks" against Christians
in Nigeria. Suicide bombings of three churches in
Kaduna state on Sunday, claimed by
militant Islamist group Boko Haram,
killed at least 16 people. Revenge attacks between Christians
and Muslims in Kaduna and Damaturu
have killed dozens more. The Pope urged Nigeria to build "a
peaceful and reconciled society." Speaking at the Vatican, Pope Benedict
said: "I am following with deep
concern the news from Nigeria, where
terrorist attacks are continuing,
especially against Christians. "I appeal to those responsible for the
violence to immediately stop spilling
the blood of innocent people." He urged Nigerians to "to cooperate in
the construction of a peaceful and
reconciled society in which the right to
freely express faith is guaranteed." Nigeria's main Christian body has said
the attacks on churches suggested a
"systematic religious cleansing". The Nigerian authorities on Tuesday
imposed a curfew in the north-eastern
city of Damaturu, and reinstated a
Kaduna state-wide ban on
movements. According to Reuters, at least 80
people have been killed in clashes in
Kaduna and Damaturu since Monday.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18517418