A mass funeral held in Nigeria for 500 people killed in Sunday's violent clashes between Islamic pastoralists and Christian villagers. Mourners gathered in Nigeria to bury in mass graves hundreds of victims of the recent violent clashes.

Villagers sang funeral hymns and a service was held at the graveside to bid farewell the dead. The clashes erupted on Sunday between Islamic pastoralists and Christian villagers in Jos.

The city lies at the crossroads of Nigeria's Muslim north and predominantly Christian south and was also the scene of violent clashes which killed hundreds in January.  The majority of the victims were women and children, hacked to death with machetes as they tried to flee their homes after hearing gun shots.

Survivors blame neighbouring Fulani tribesman for the attack. Dan Yamu, resident of Gogo Nahawa village says: "We knew them according to the facts we have about them here. The Fulanis that stayed here they are the ones who went and called their friends to come and attack."

In New York, UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern. United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon says: "I'm deeply concerned that there has been more inter-religious violence with appalling loss of life. I appeal to all concerned to exercise maximum restraint. Nigeria's political and religious leaders should work together to address the underlying causes and to achieve a permanent solution to the crisis in Jos."

The instability underscores Nigeria's fragility, as the country approaches the campaign period for its 2011elections with uncertainty over who is in charge. – Reuters.