Talks bid to resolve bloody Nigeria conflict stalls

ATTEMPTS to mediate a bloody conflict in Nigeria, where attacks by a predominantly Christian tribe on a Muslim village killed at least 500 remained bogged down yesterday.

Although the exact death toll was not known, Red Cross official Umar Abdu Mairiga estimated 500 to 600 were dead after interviewing witnesses and inspecting a mass grave site where hundreds were apparently buried.

Mr Mairiga was leading a Nigerian Red Cross team visiting the Hausa-speaking Muslim town of Yelwa following raids by fighters from the largely Christian Tarok ethnic group.