Lagos, Nigeria — Nigeria witnessed a resurgence of sectarian violence this weekend, as clashes between Christians and Moslems in the northern state of Gombe claimed 10 lives and destroyed several properties.

Government officials said the violence started Thursday after Christian youths protesting against the planned introduction of the Islamic legal code, Sharia, in the state clashed with rival Moslem youths.

The violence, which continued through the weekend, followed the reported presence of the state's Sharia Implementation Committee members at the Christian-dominated Dalanga local government area of the state.

Gombe is the second state to record deaths from Sharia- related violence, after more than 500 persons were killed in fighting between adherents of the two religions in the northern state of Kaduna in February and May.

At least half a dozen of the 19 states in the predominantly- Moslem north have so far introduced the Sharia or are in the process of doing so, since Zamfara became the first state to launch the Koran-based law 27 October 1999.

Christians residing mostly in the southern part of the country have challenged the introduction of the law, which punishes theft with hand amputation and adultery with death by stoning, saying its adoption violated Nigeria's constitution, which prescribes secularism.

Moslems countered by saying the adoption of Sharia was in accordance with the tenets of their faith.

Though Nigeria has witnessed a myriad of ethnic clashes since the country's return to civil rule 29 May 1999, Sharia has become the most-divisive issue in the country since the successful political transition.

Critics have read political motives to its introduction, saying it was aimed at sabotaging the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southern Christian whose election into office broke the 15-year streak of mostly-Moslem army generals who have ruled the multi-religious country of 110 million people.

Desperate suggestions, ranging from swapping the country's federalism for confederacy to outright break-up of the country, have been advanced as a way out of the crisis.

But the government, careful not to be seen as taking sides, has continued to express the hope that the issue would fizzle out with time.