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Nigerian militants free Italian Foreign workers freed in Nigeria
(about 5 hours later)
The Italian Foreign Ministry says militants in Nigeria have released an Italian oil worker seized last month from a terminal in the Niger Delta. Five Chinese workers kidnapped in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region have been freed, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Two of his Italian colleagues who were kidnapped at the same time remain in captivity, as does a Lebanese man. Unidentified gunmen seized the group of telecommunications engineers near the city of Port Harcourt on 5 January.
A militant group called the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said it had released Italian Roberto Dieghi as a goodwill gesture. "Following efforts, the hostages were all safely rescued," the ministry said in a statement.
There has been a spate of kidnappings in the Niger Delta region. Earlier, the Italian authorities confirmed that an Italian oil worker seized in December had been released.
The Niger Delta region has been hit by attacks and kidnappings in recent months.
Militants seeking a greater share of the region's oil wealth have targeted foreign oil facilities and their workers since early 2006.Militants seeking a greater share of the region's oil wealth have targeted foreign oil facilities and their workers since early 2006.
Rising violenceRising violence
Mr Dieghi was handed over to a Bayelsa state government delegation at around 0100 local time (0000GMT) on Thursday, the militants said. The Chinese workers were released on Wednesday, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
Mend denied that his release was linked to his poor health, calling it "an act of goodwill on our part which we hope will be reciprocated by the Nigerian government". "The Chinese government appreciates support and assistance of relevant parties in Nigeria," the foreign ministry statement said.
No discussions were going on concerning the remaining men, who would be held "indefinitely", a statement from the group said. The kidnapped men had been in the region to install telephone lines, Nigerian officials said at the time of their abduction.
The men are all employees of Italian oil firm Agip. Dieghi and three others were seized last month
In recent months attacks have escalated and oil multinationals have evacuated thousands of workers from the western side of the region. Earlier, militants turned over Roberto Dieghi, an Italian oil worker seized last month, to a Bayelsa state government delegation.
The militants, a group called the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), said it had released him as a goodwill gesture.
But three of Mr Dieghi's colleagues seized at the same time as him - two Italians and a Lebanese man, all employed by Italian oil firm Agip - remain in captivity.
No discussions were going on concerning the remaining men, who would be held "indefinitely", a statement from Mend said.
In recent months attacks by the militants have escalated, causing oil multinationals to evacuate thousands of workers from the western side of the region.
On Tuesday, two oil workers - a Nigerian and a Dutch national - were killed when gunmen attacked a vessel near an oil export complex.On Tuesday, two oil workers - a Nigerian and a Dutch national - were killed when gunmen attacked a vessel near an oil export complex.
The instability in the region has reduced Nigeria's oil production, costing the country some $4.4bn (£2.2bn) last year, according to the government.The instability in the region has reduced Nigeria's oil production, costing the country some $4.4bn (£2.2bn) last year, according to the government.