JOS, Nigeria (Reuters) - Clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs subsided on Wednesday in Nigeria's central city of Jos, but sporadic gunfire could be heard in neighbouring communities as fighting spread to other parts of Plateau state.

Hundreds of soldiers and police were stationed throughout the state's capital city to enforce a 24-hour curfew, which has left many streets deserted and businesses closed.

At least 151 residents have been killed in four days of clashes, a senior mosque official said, with more bodies expected to arrive later on Wednesday at the city's main mosque.

"The fighting has stopped in Jos, but we can hear gunshots in other communities in the outskirts of the city. We are expecting more corpses to be brought in from surrounding communities later today," said Muhammad Tanko Shittu, a senior mosque official organising mass burials.

The official police figures were significantly lower with 20 people dead, 40 injured and 168 arrested since Sunday.

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, in his first use of executive power, ordered troops to Jos on Tuesday to restore calm and prevent a repetition of clashes in November 2008, when hundreds of residents were killed in the country's worst sectarian fighting in years.

It was not clear whether President Umaru Yar'Adua, who has been in hospital in Saudi Arabia for nearly two months, had been briefed on the situation.

This week's violence erupted after an argument between Muslim and Christian neighbours over the rebuilding of homes destroyed in the 2008 clashes.