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| US deploys planes in search for Nigerian girls | US deploys planes in search for Nigerian girls |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US has revealed it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. | The US has revealed it is flying manned surveillance missions over Nigeria to try to find more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. |
| The US is also sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government, officials said. | The US is also sharing commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerian government, officials said. |
| It comes after militants released a video of about 130 girls, saying they could be swapped for jailed fighters. | It comes after militants released a video of about 130 girls, saying they could be swapped for jailed fighters. |
| Boko Haram seized them from a school in the northern Borno state on 14 April. | Boko Haram seized them from a school in the northern Borno state on 14 April. |
| "We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria with the government's permission," a senior administration official, who declined to be named, said. | |
| It was not immediately clear what types of aircraft are being deployed. | It was not immediately clear what types of aircraft are being deployed. |
| Looking for clues | Looking for clues |
| Other officials, quoted by Reuters, said the US was also considering deploying unmanned "drone" aircraft to aid the search. | Other officials, quoted by Reuters, said the US was also considering deploying unmanned "drone" aircraft to aid the search. |
| US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said earlier on Monday that intelligence experts were closely examining the Boko Haram video for clues that might help locate the girls. | US state department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said earlier on Monday that intelligence experts were closely examining the Boko Haram video for clues that might help locate the girls. |
| Pogu Bitrus, a leader in the town of Chibok, from where the girls were seized, said vegetation in the video resembled that in the nearby Sambisa forest reserve. | Pogu Bitrus, a leader in the town of Chibok, from where the girls were seized, said vegetation in the video resembled that in the nearby Sambisa forest reserve. |
| The video showed some 136 girls wearing bulky hijabs. Militants said they had "converted" to Islam. | The video showed some 136 girls wearing bulky hijabs. Militants said they had "converted" to Islam. |
| The girls' families have said that most of those seized are Christians. | The girls' families have said that most of those seized are Christians. |
| Two girls on the video were singled out for questioning and said they were Christians but had converted to Islam. | Two girls on the video were singled out for questioning and said they were Christians but had converted to Islam. |
| Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said the girls could be exchanged for "our brethren in your prison". | Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said the girls could be exchanged for "our brethren in your prison". |
| "I swear to almighty Allah, you will not see them again until you release our brothers that you have captured," he said. | "I swear to almighty Allah, you will not see them again until you release our brothers that you have captured," he said. |
| In a video last week, Abubakar Shekau threatened to sell the girls into slavery. | In a video last week, Abubakar Shekau threatened to sell the girls into slavery. |
| Outcry | Outcry |
| A Nigerian government statement said "all options" for the release of the schoolgirls were on the table. | A Nigerian government statement said "all options" for the release of the schoolgirls were on the table. |
| However, Interior Minister Abba Moro appeared to dismiss the offer, saying no exchange would take place. The cause for the discrepancy was unclear. | However, Interior Minister Abba Moro appeared to dismiss the offer, saying no exchange would take place. The cause for the discrepancy was unclear. |
| Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden, had previously said the girls should not have been at school and should get married instead. | Boko Haram, which means Western education is forbidden, had previously said the girls should not have been at school and should get married instead. |
| The militants have been engaged in a violent campaign against the Nigerian government since 2009. | The militants have been engaged in a violent campaign against the Nigerian government since 2009. |
| President Goodluck Jonathan - who has has faced heavy criticism of the government response to the mass abduction - said on Sunday that help from abroad had made him optimistic of finding the girls. | President Goodluck Jonathan - who has has faced heavy criticism of the government response to the mass abduction - said on Sunday that help from abroad had made him optimistic of finding the girls. |
| He says he believes the girls are still in Nigeria. | He says he believes the girls are still in Nigeria. |
| The kidnapping has triggered a huge international campaign with world leaders and celebrities calling for the children to be released. | The kidnapping has triggered a huge international campaign with world leaders and celebrities calling for the children to be released. |
| Both the UK and US already have teams helping on the ground in Nigeria and an Israeli counter-terrorism team is also on its way. | Both the UK and US already have teams helping on the ground in Nigeria and an Israeli counter-terrorism team is also on its way. |