Nigerian authorities relaxed a 24-hour curfew in the central city of Jos on Thursday to allow thousands of residents to return to their homes following religious clashes that killed hundreds.

The strong presence of troops and police has helped restore calm in the capital of Plateau state with no reports of major violence for nearly a day. Between 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. a 24-hour curfew in Jos operates  to allow Nigerians to return to their homes.Four days of clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs this week killed more than 460, wounded nearly 1,000, and forced thousands to flee their homes.

"It has been relaxed because there is some difficulty with displaced people wanting to go back to their homes and access basic needs of life," said state government spokesman Gregory Yenlong.

The relative calm will also allow mosque officials to travel to nearby communities and bury the dead.
Mosque officials have estimated the number of dead Muslims since Sunday at about 400. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday said at least 65 Christians had died.

source: Reuters

photo: EPA