Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has enraged Nigeria by commenting on the recent religious violence in the country.

Gaddafi said Nigeria should be split into an Islamic north and Christian south to prevent more bloodshed.

Nigeria is outraged by the comments and has recalled its ambassador from Tripoli.

The Nigerian parliament has also called for an African Union investigation into whether Libya is supplying infiltrators to destabilise the country. Nigeria has often blamed foreign militants of stirring up violence inside its borders, but there has never been any independent evidence.

Violence between Muslims and Christians in and near the Nigerian city of Jos has flared up in recent months. Jos lies in the fertile “Middle Belt” between the Islamic north and Christian south. Hundreds of people have been killed in the latest wave of attacks.

On Wednesday, acting President Goodluck Jonathan, who is leading the country in the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua, sacked his cabinet in a bid to consolidate his power, adding to the country’s political instability.