Nigeria has reacted angrily to the recent comments by the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in which he suggested “partitioning” of the country between Christians and Muslims.

Nigeria summoned its envoy to Tripoli yesterday, after Gaddafi referred to the recent deadly violence between Christians and Muslims in central Nigeria and suggested that the Muslim majority in the north follow Pakistan-style separation from southern areas with more Christian population.

"The only thing that could put an end to the bloodshed ... is the appearance of another Mohammed Ali Jinnah (Pakistan's founder) who established a state for the Muslims and another for the Christians," AFP quoted Gaddafi as saying earlier.

The comment drew Nigerian government's fire, with the country's foreign ministry censuring the Libyan president for his "irresponsible utterances."

"Our ambassador in Tripoli has been recalled for urgent consultations," said foreign ministry spokesperson Ozo Nwobu.

He also expressed his government's 'serious concerns' over the remarks that had "diminished" Gaddafi's "status and credibility."

Last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross said about 8,000 Nigerians had fled their homes following sectarian clashes that killed over 100 people in the key central city of Jos, which is considered a buffer zone between the Muslim and Christian communities.

Despite deployment of government forces, violence over land, livestock and water disputes has claimed hundreds of casualties in the worst sectarian clashes of recent months.