Nigeria calls oil delta rebels for talks

ABUJA – The Nigerian government has summoned senior politicians from across the oil-producing Niger Delta to talks with a rebel warlord whose threats of violence drove world oil prices to a record high this week.

Warlord Mujahid Dokubo-Asari said talks were delayed while the government assembled governors from three delta states and a paramilitary leader to thrash out rebel demands for autonomy and more oil revenues for the impoverished region. Asari, who leads the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, has agreed to call a truce for the duration of the talks, aimed at averting a fresh offensive by rebels in the vast area of creeks and mangrove swamps which pumps almost all of the nation’s 2,3 million barrels per day.Asked if he was optimistic a deal could be reached, he said: “The president has set no preconditions for the talks.We told them we are leaving today after the talks.”Asari’s fighters, thousands of well-armed youths of the Ijaw tribe, have fought sporadic battles with government since last year, but violence escalated in the last three weeks when the government launched air and land attacks on 10 rebel bases.The group issued a communique on Monday telling foreigners to leave the delta immediately ahead of an “all-out war on the Nigerian state” due to start today.Asari advised oil companies in the world’s seventh largest exporter to shut down operations.The communique demanded talks on self-determination, resource control and the holding of a Sovereign National Conference to renegotiate the terms of the Nigerian federation.Oil prices broke above US$50 (N$325) per barrel for the first time on Monday after Asari issued the communique, as dealers saw a further tightening of already precarious global oil supply.US futures rose 17 cents to US$49 68 a barrel yesterday, having dropped more than a dollar on word of the truce.Multinationals have largely ignored the warning, but they have stepped up security in the vast area which produces almost all of the Opec nation’s oil.Nigeria’s top producer, Royal Dutch Shell Group, said it evacuated about 300 workers from three oilfields located near fighting, and closed one flow station pumping 28 000 barrels per day.Companies fear a repeat of last year’s uprising by members of the Ijaw tribe, who predominate in the delta, which forced them briefly to shut 40 per cent of Nigeria’s production.-Nampa-ReutersAsari, who leads the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, has agreed to call a truce for the duration of the talks, aimed at averting a fresh offensive by rebels in the vast area of creeks and mangrove swamps which pumps almost all of the nation’s 2,3 million barrels per day.Asked if he was optimistic a deal could be reached, he said: “The president has set no preconditions for the talks.We told them we are leaving today after the talks.”Asari’s fighters, thousands of well-armed youths of the Ijaw tribe, have fought sporadic battles with government since last year, but violence escalated in the last three weeks when the government launched air and land attacks on 10 rebel bases.The group issued a communique on Monday telling foreigners to leave the delta immediately ahead of an “all-out war on the Nigerian state” due to start today.Asari advised oil companies in the world’s seventh largest exporter to shut down operations.The communique demanded talks on self-determination, resource control and the holding of a Sovereign National Conference to renegotiate the terms of the Nigerian federation.Oil prices broke above US$50 (N$325) per barrel for the first time on Monday after Asari issued the communique, as dealers saw a further tightening of already precarious global oil supply.US futures rose 17 cents to US$49 68 a barrel yesterday, having dropped more than a dollar on word of the truce.Multinationals have largely ignored the warning, but they have stepped up security in the vast area which produces almost all of the Opec nation’s oil.Nigeria’s top producer, Royal Dutch Shell Group, said it evacuated about 300 workers from three oilfields located near fighting, and closed one flow station pumping 28 000 barrels per day.Companies fear a repeat of last year’s uprising by members of the Ijaw tribe, who predominate in the delta, which forced them briefly to shut 40 per cent of Nigeria’s production.-Nampa-Reuters