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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russian hostages freed in Nigeria | Russian hostages freed in Nigeria |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Six Russians kidnapped by gunmen more than two months ago from an aluminium firm in southern Nigeria have been freed, government officials say. | Six Russians kidnapped by gunmen more than two months ago from an aluminium firm in southern Nigeria have been freed, government officials say. |
| The four men and two women are reportedly in good health. | The four men and two women are reportedly in good health. |
| They were seized on 3 June in the south-eastern town of Ikot Abasi, and their Nigerian driver was shot dead. | They were seized on 3 June in the south-eastern town of Ikot Abasi, and their Nigerian driver was shot dead. |
| Kidnappings - more often of oil workers - have become a common occurrence in the south of Nigeria. Victims tend to be released after a ransom is paid. | Kidnappings - more often of oil workers - have become a common occurrence in the south of Nigeria. Victims tend to be released after a ransom is paid. |
| The Russians were working at an aluminium-smelting plant controlled by Russia Aluminium (Rusal), the world's largest aluminium producer. | The Russians were working at an aluminium-smelting plant controlled by Russia Aluminium (Rusal), the world's largest aluminium producer. |
| The Russian Foreign Ministry has welcomed their release: "If the reports are true, we are satisfied with the outcome of the affair," a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Krivtsov, told RIA Novosti news agency. | The Russian Foreign Ministry has welcomed their release: "If the reports are true, we are satisfied with the outcome of the affair," a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Krivtsov, told RIA Novosti news agency. |
| "The work for the liberation of the Russians has been long and painstaking. We are satisfied that the matter was resolved in a positive way," he said. | "The work for the liberation of the Russians has been long and painstaking. We are satisfied that the matter was resolved in a positive way," he said. |
| It was not clear which group kidnapped the Russians. | |
| President Umaru Yar'Adua has said tackling the unrest in the south is one of his top priorities. |