Nigeria to tackle power vandals

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Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua is to seek emergency powers to deal with those who sabotage oil pipelines and electricity lines, he says.

He wants to "deal much more severely than is normal" with the criminals, he told journalists.

But he did not say when he would ask the National Assembly for the powers.

Attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta have cut production by about 25%, while Nigerians often complain about electricity shortages.

He gave the interview to Reuters news agency and two Nigerian newspaper editors to mark 100 days in office.

Militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta demand that more oil wealth is used to help local people.

They often kidnap oil workers for ransom.

In the latest violence in the region's main city, Port Harcourt, a Dutch national was shot dead on Sunday.

Mr Yar'Adua said he had a 15-year plan to develop the Niger Delta.