Soldiers in the Nigerian city of Jos shot in the air to disperse crowds Monday and were ordered to deal ruthlessly with rioters after Christian-Muslim violence left at least 51 dead and 500 wounded.
By midday Sunday, 51 people had died and more than 500 others had been injured, Plateau State Information Commissioner Amos Azi told journalists, releasing a first, partial official toll.
"This is not a final figure. The total I have given you is ... on what we have received from various hospitals and clinics," he said.
"All the major hospitals ... and the army and airforce clinics continue to provide round-the-clock medical assistance to the injured," he added.
Residents earlier told reporters that more than 100 people had died in the violence which erupted after a chance argument outside the city's central mosque Friday.
And the accounts suggested the final toll would be over 100.
Thousands of people meanwhile continued to flee the city, lining the roads out of town, while others sought refuge in police barracks and the grounds of primary schools.
Azi warned the rioters who continued to defy the army.
No-one should "test the will of this government", he said.
"We want to warn that henceforth any further act of violence will be met by a stiff and decisive response by the security agencies," he added.
The sharp sound of gunfire richocheted early Monday around the city after unrest continued overnight for the third straight night in a row.
A group of foreign correspondents were taken on a tour of the city under army escort.
Soldiers of the 3rd Armoured Division were everywhere, grouped at checkpoints and on cross roads and carrying out mounted patrols from armoured vehicles.
The few private vehicles moving on the streets were stopped and searched by the soldiers. Shops and stalls remained firmly closed.
The civilians out on the street raised their hands over their hands to show the gun-toting soldiers they were empty handed -- JOS, Nigeria (AFP)
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