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| French sailors seized in Nigeria | French sailors seized in Nigeria |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta region have not received any ransom demand from kidnappers who took two French seamen captive on Sunday. | Police in Nigeria's restive Niger Delta region have not received any ransom demand from kidnappers who took two French seamen captive on Sunday. |
| The men, crew members of a tug boat servicing oil platforms, were seized from a bar outside Port Harcourt. | The men, crew members of a tug boat servicing oil platforms, were seized from a bar outside Port Harcourt. |
| French officials said they were working to get the men released as soon as possible, the embassy told reporters. | French officials said they were working to get the men released as soon as possible, the embassy told reporters. |
| The kidnap came after a weekend of turf violence between rival militants left at least four dead in Port Harcourt. | The kidnap came after a weekend of turf violence between rival militants left at least four dead in Port Harcourt. |
| Over 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta where militants have attacked oil infrastructure and forced companies to cut their production by nearly a quarter. | Over 200 foreigners have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta where militants have attacked oil infrastructure and forced companies to cut their production by nearly a quarter. |
| The militants say they are fighting to ensure that Niger Delta residents see more benefits of the oil wealth. | The militants say they are fighting to ensure that Niger Delta residents see more benefits of the oil wealth. |
| But correspondents say some are criminal gangs, making money from ransom payments and stealing oil. | But correspondents say some are criminal gangs, making money from ransom payments and stealing oil. |
| Street patrols | Street patrols |
| The kidnapped sailors are crew members of the oil platform tug Bourbon Apsara, police said. | The kidnapped sailors are crew members of the oil platform tug Bourbon Apsara, police said. |
| They were drinking in a waterfront bar when a dozen armed men arrived in a boat and took them away. | They were drinking in a waterfront bar when a dozen armed men arrived in a boat and took them away. |
| Security forces on the scene opened fire killing at least three militants as they tried to escape, police spokeswoman Rita Inoma Abbey said. | Security forces on the scene opened fire killing at least three militants as they tried to escape, police spokeswoman Rita Inoma Abbey said. |
| Earlier, gunfights erupted in Port Harcourt's slums as two gangs fought over territory. | Earlier, gunfights erupted in Port Harcourt's slums as two gangs fought over territory. |
| Staff at a clinic run by French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said one person died from gunshot wounds there, another 14 people were still being treated. | |
| At least three other civilians were killed in the city's waterfront slums as gang members fought running battles, Reuters news agency reports. | At least three other civilians were killed in the city's waterfront slums as gang members fought running battles, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The fight between gangs run by Soboma George and Prince Farah, both wanted by the authorities for crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and murder, flared in a town just outside Port Harcourt last week. | The fight between gangs run by Soboma George and Prince Farah, both wanted by the authorities for crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery and murder, flared in a town just outside Port Harcourt last week. |
| A group of gunmen arrived in boats to attack Port Harcourt late on Friday. | A group of gunmen arrived in boats to attack Port Harcourt late on Friday. |
| "The gunmen have got back into their boats and gone back to the creeks," Mrs Inoma Abbey said. | "The gunmen have got back into their boats and gone back to the creeks," Mrs Inoma Abbey said. |
| Soldiers from the Joint Task Force are patrolling the streets, she said. | Soldiers from the Joint Task Force are patrolling the streets, she said. |
| Port Harcourt was placed under a curfew last year when gang members loyal to Mr George fought with another gang and the military. | Port Harcourt was placed under a curfew last year when gang members loyal to Mr George fought with another gang and the military. |
| Dozens were killed and wounded in battles between militants and the military which used helicopter gunships to attack youths. | Dozens were killed and wounded in battles between militants and the military which used helicopter gunships to attack youths. |