The Movement for Emancipation for Niger Delta (MEND) on Saturday
denied any contact or negotiations with Nigeria's southern Bayelsa
government or Italian oil company Agip for the release of the
hostages they took.
In an email to Xinhua, the MEND said that "there have been no
meetings whatsoever with the Bayelsa government, Agip or any other
parties towards the release of the hostages."
"As earlier stated, the hostages will only be exchanged. There
will be no negotiations," it added.
According to the email, all four hostages have been relocated
and will not be permitted to communicate with the outside world
until their eventual release.
In earlier emails to the media, the group had said the hostages
would not be released until Nigerian authorities free Mujahid
Dokubo-Asari, a militant leader currently on trial for treason, and
Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of southern Bayelsa State,
on trial for money- laundering.
On Dec. 7, the MEND took three Italian and one Lebanese oil
workers as hostages who are still in captive of the armed
group.
The MEND detonated two car bombs in oil company compounds of
Agip and Shell in oil city Port Harcourt, which damaged four cars
but caused no casualties.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2006)
