ROME, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The Italian foreign minister demanded action against persecution of Christians after another violent incident Tuesday in Nigeria.
Thirteen people reportedly were killed in an attack on a Christian village in central Nigeria, ANSA said. A few weeks ago in the Nigerian city of Jos, at least 80 people died in bombings and clashes between Muslim and Christian youths.
In the latest of a wave of attacks in the Middle East, a church in Alexandria, Egypt, was bombed on New Year's Day, killing 23 Copts.
''The dramatic news from Nigeria, where once again innocent lives have been destroyed by attacks targeting the Christian community, shows that the phenomenon of religious intolerance is widespread and of a vast scale,'' Foreign Minister Franco said. ''The international community cannot and must not close its eyes."
After the Alexandria bombing, Frattini said European aid should be tied to respect for human rights in countries where Christian minorities are under assault.
Frattini and his French, Polish and Hungarian counterparts have asked European Union foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton to take up the issue at a Jan. 31 meeting of foreign ministers.
