'Hundreds' of Christians killed in Nigeria

Rioters armed with machetes killed more than 200 people, including a four-day-old baby, in three mainly Christian villages near the Nigerian regional capital of Jos, according to residents.

A report by the BBC put the toll at nearer 500. The slaughter in the area, where there is a bitter history of religious tension, appeared to be in revenge for attacks in January when most of the 300 victims were Muslims.

The bodies of the dead lined dusty streets in the villages, and the Plateau State government said there would be mass burials today. Children's bodies were tangled with each other in a morgue. One young victim appeared to have been scalped, while others had severed hands and feet.

Jos has been under an all-night curfew enforced by the military since January's violence, and it was not clear how the attackers managed to slip through.

Nigeria's acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, said security forces would be stationed along Plateau State's borders to keep outsiders from coming in with more weapons and fighters.

"[We will] undertake strategic initiatives to confront and defeat these roving bands of killers," he said.

"While it is too early to state categorically what is responsible for this renewed wave of violence, we want to inform Nigerians that the security services are on top of the situation."