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Nigeria peace talks 'fruitful' | Nigeria peace talks 'fruitful' |
(about 13 hours later) | |
Nigeria's main militant group in the oil-producing Niger delta has described peace talks with President Umaru Yar'Adua as promising. | Nigeria's main militant group in the oil-producing Niger delta has described peace talks with President Umaru Yar'Adua as promising. |
A spokesman for the Mend group said the meeting signalled the beginning of "serious, meaningful dialogue". The government said it was "fruitful". | A spokesman for the Mend group said the meeting signalled the beginning of "serious, meaningful dialogue". The government said it was "fruitful". |
Attacks by the militant group in the Delta region cost Nigeria around $1bn (£598m) a month in lost revenue. | |
A ceasefire was declared three weeks ago to allow talks to go ahead. | A ceasefire was declared three weeks ago to allow talks to go ahead. |
President Yar'Adua's spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said the discussions on Saturday were "frank and fruitful". | President Yar'Adua's spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi said the discussions on Saturday were "frank and fruitful". |
Nobel-prize winning Nigerian writer and political activist, Wole Soyinka, also took part in the talks. | Nobel-prize winning Nigerian writer and political activist, Wole Soyinka, also took part in the talks. |
Thousands of militants have given up their weapons in an amnesty deal offered by Mr Yar'Adua in June. | Thousands of militants have given up their weapons in an amnesty deal offered by Mr Yar'Adua in June. |
In return they have been promised education and jobs. | In return they have been promised education and jobs. |
A three-month respite from the violence has brought back some oil and gas production, but sceptics fear the former fighters could resume violence if they do not quickly find work. | A three-month respite from the violence has brought back some oil and gas production, but sceptics fear the former fighters could resume violence if they do not quickly find work. |
According to Reuters, security experts say some former militants have reverted to their old ways by tapping into oil pipelines and selling it on the international market. | According to Reuters, security experts say some former militants have reverted to their old ways by tapping into oil pipelines and selling it on the international market. |
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