Cartoon Protestors Burn 15 Churches in Nigeria Muslim-Christian Clash

Nigerian Muslims angry over the caricatures of the Muslim prophet Muhammad attacked Christians and burned churches during a protest on Saturday, killing at least 15 people in the deadliest confrontation yet over the drawings.

Mobs of Muslim protesters flooded the northeast city of Maiduguri with machetes, sticks and iron rods, reported an Associated Press journalist that witnessed the event. One group threw a tire around a man, poured gasoline on him and set him on fire.

Reports indicated that within three hours, thousands of rioters burned 15 churches in Maiduguri before security forces were able to restore order.

The violence marked the first major protest to occur in Africa