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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Nigerian army rescues Europeans | Nigerian army rescues Europeans |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Three Europeans abducted from a bar last month in the oil-rich Niger Delta have been rescued in a "well-organised operation", says the Nigerian military. | Three Europeans abducted from a bar last month in the oil-rich Niger Delta have been rescued in a "well-organised operation", says the Nigerian military. |
| Special task force spokesman Mohammed Sagir told the BBC News website the kidnappers were taken by surprise. | Special task force spokesman Mohammed Sagir told the BBC News website the kidnappers were taken by surprise. |
| The two Croatians and a Montenegrin oil worker were seized by unidentified gunmen from Port Harcourt - where many foreign workers are based. | |
| There have been dozens of kidnappings, with most freed after a ransom is paid. | There have been dozens of kidnappings, with most freed after a ransom is paid. |
| A similar military operation last November led to the death of a British oil worker and three others in a shootout between Nigerian soldiers and the hostage takers. | |
| Major Sagir said the latest rescue attempt went well because it was "well-organised". | |
| "Besides, the sheer size of the rescue team and their superior firepower made it absolutely foolhardy for the militants to put up a fight. So, it was with the least resistance that the hostages were rescued," he said. | |
| Two Italians and a Frenchman, captured by different armed groups, are still being held in the Niger Delta. | Two Italians and a Frenchman, captured by different armed groups, are still being held in the Niger Delta. |
| Thousands of foreign oil workers have left Nigeria since a spate of kidnappings and raids on oil installations began early last year. | Thousands of foreign oil workers have left Nigeria since a spate of kidnappings and raids on oil installations began early last year. |
| Nigeria's oil exports have dropped by 20%. | Nigeria's oil exports have dropped by 20%. |
| The campaign of kidnappings was begun by militants demanding local control of oil wealth, but criminal gangs are now responsible for most of the incidents, correspondents say. | The campaign of kidnappings was begun by militants demanding local control of oil wealth, but criminal gangs are now responsible for most of the incidents, correspondents say. |