BAN VOICES ALARM AT DEADLY SECTARIAN CLASHES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed his concern over reports of another round of sectarian violence in northern Nigeria, which has apparently led to scores of deaths.

Mr. Ban "condemns the unnecessary loss of human life and the destruction of property as a result of militant attacks," his spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in response to a question. "He hopes that those behind the attacks would be identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law."

Media reports say at least 100 people have been killed since Sunday as a result of the clashes, which have pitted local Muslims against police forces.

Mr. Ban offered his condolences to the people of Nigeria and to the families of those who were killed or wounded during the violence.

"The Secretary-General calls upon the Government of Nigeria, law enforcement and security agencies, as well as religious and community leaders, to work together to address the underlying causes of the frequent religious clashes in Nigeria so that a resolution could be found through dialogue, tolerance and understanding."

Deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Nigerian city of Jos last November killed several hundred people and displaced thousands of others, sparking a similar statement of concern from Mr. Ban.
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A New Beginning -- Watch the President's Speech

Hello - As a Senior Advisor to the President, I'm here in Cairo, Egypt where I watched President Obama deliver an unprecedented speech calling for a new beginning for the United States and Muslim communities around the world. We all know that there has been tension between the United States and some Muslim communities. But, as the President said this morning, if all sides face the sources of tension squarely and focus on mutual interests, we can find a new way forward. The President outlined some big goals for this new beginning in his speech -- including disrupting, dismantling, and defeating violent extremism. It was a historic speech, and since many Americans were asleep at the time it was given we wanted to make sure you had a chance to see it: Majority-Muslim countries around the world are filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives, just as in America. Indeed, part of what makes America great is having nearly seven million Muslim Americans living here today and enriching our culture and communities. We can extend that kind of relationship abroad. It won't always be easy, but if we make an effort to bridge our differences rather than resigning ourselves to animosity, we can move toward a more peaceful world over time. Thank you, David Axelrod Senior Advisor to the President