Christian youths attack Muslim reporter at funeral

Police fired warning shots to disperse the group and pulled the journalist to their car before driving him to a hospital.

DOGO NAHAWA, March 8, 2010 (AFP) - Christian youths attacked and wounded a Muslim journalist as he tried to cover the mass burial of victims of weekend killings near the central Nigerian city of Jos, an AFP reporter said.

The journalist working for Jos Highland FM had his nose broken in the attack. His face was swollen and he had bruises after a group of about 30 youths accused him of spying on the community.

"It is a provocation that you come here after all the dastardly things done by your people to our kids and kin," one of the youths shouted at the reporter.

Funerals took place Monday for victims of a three-hour orgy of violence on Sunday in three Christian villages close to Jos, blamed on members of the mainly Muslim Fulani ethnic group.

Officials said more than 500 Christians were chopped to death with machetes.

The journalist was pushed to the ground, kicked and rocks were hurled at him.

A government official who tried to intervene to rescue him was punched and sustained a bloody nose.

Police fired warning shots to disperse the group and pulled the journalist to their car before driving him to a hospital.