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| Nigeria fighting 'killed 1,000' | |
| (2 days later) | |
| The military in Nigeria has been accused of killing 1,000 civilians during an upsurge in operations against militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. | The military in Nigeria has been accused of killing 1,000 civilians during an upsurge in operations against militants in the oil-rich Niger Delta. |
| "They...bombard entire communities from the air, sea and land," said the Ijaw National Congress which represents the region's largest ethnic group. | "They...bombard entire communities from the air, sea and land," said the Ijaw National Congress which represents the region's largest ethnic group. |
| A Nigerian military spokesman dismissed the allegations as unfounded. | A Nigerian military spokesman dismissed the allegations as unfounded. |
| A BBC correspondent says the claims are impossible to verify and reflect the people unaccounted for. | |
| The army has freed 17 hostages, mostly foreigners, held by militants fighting for a greater share of oil revenues. | The army has freed 17 hostages, mostly foreigners, held by militants fighting for a greater share of oil revenues. |
| But the military action has "resulted in over a thousand deaths, because we dared to ask for our rights," said Victor Burubo, spokesman for the Ijaw National Congress. | But the military action has "resulted in over a thousand deaths, because we dared to ask for our rights," said Victor Burubo, spokesman for the Ijaw National Congress. |
| He called on the United Nations to intervene in a BBC interview. | He called on the United Nations to intervene in a BBC interview. |
| The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared "all-out war" on the Nigerian government after an attack on one of its camps deep in the swamp lands on Friday. | The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) declared "all-out war" on the Nigerian government after an attack on one of its camps deep in the swamp lands on Friday. |
| 'Rescue operation' | 'Rescue operation' |
| A second hostage being held by Mend militants was killed in fighting with government forces. | A second hostage being held by Mend militants was killed in fighting with government forces. |
| In the upsurge of violence - the worst in months - the military have used naval gunboats and there are claims of helicopter gunship attacks, the BBC's Caroline Duffield reports from Nigeria. | In the upsurge of violence - the worst in months - the military have used naval gunboats and there are claims of helicopter gunship attacks, the BBC's Caroline Duffield reports from Nigeria. |
| The army says the offensive is a rescue operation to save the crews of two ships hijacked by gunmen last Thursday, and that nine Filipinos, four Ukrainians and four Nigerians have been freed so far. | The army says the offensive is a rescue operation to save the crews of two ships hijacked by gunmen last Thursday, and that nine Filipinos, four Ukrainians and four Nigerians have been freed so far. |
| A Mend statement said: "We regret to announce that two hostages have been killed by the indiscriminate shelling." | A Mend statement said: "We regret to announce that two hostages have been killed by the indiscriminate shelling." |
| 'Blood oil' dripping from Nigeria Elusive peace in Nigeria's oil Delta | 'Blood oil' dripping from Nigeria Elusive peace in Nigeria's oil Delta |
| It said their bodies would be given to the Red Cross, but gave no details of nationality. | It said their bodies would be given to the Red Cross, but gave no details of nationality. |
| The group added that Briton Matthew Maguire, who was taken hostage separately last year, was now being moved to a new location. | The group added that Briton Matthew Maguire, who was taken hostage separately last year, was now being moved to a new location. |
| Mend - the most visible of numerous armed gangs operating in the Delta - says it is fighting for a fairer share of Nigeria's oil wealth for local people. | Mend - the most visible of numerous armed gangs operating in the Delta - says it is fighting for a fairer share of Nigeria's oil wealth for local people. |
| However they are involved in extortion and massive oil theft as well as kidnapping, our correspondent says. | However they are involved in extortion and massive oil theft as well as kidnapping, our correspondent says. |
| They had ordered oil companies to pull out their staff by Saturday. The group also says it blew up two major gas pipelines over the weekend. | They had ordered oil companies to pull out their staff by Saturday. The group also says it blew up two major gas pipelines over the weekend. |
| Analysts expected renewed violence between militants and the military after Mend rejected an amnesty offered by the government. | Analysts expected renewed violence between militants and the military after Mend rejected an amnesty offered by the government. |
| The government has still not officially said the offer is off the table. | The government has still not officially said the offer is off the table. |