This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27398640
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nigeria abductions: Government 'ready' for Boko Haram talks | Nigeria abductions: Government 'ready' for Boko Haram talks |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nigeria is ready to talk to Islamist militants Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, a minister has told the BBC. | Nigeria is ready to talk to Islamist militants Boko Haram for the release of more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, a minister has told the BBC. |
| Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said on Monday that captured girls who had not converted to Islam could be swapped for jailed fighters. | |
| Special Duties Minister Tanimu Turaki said that if Shekau was sincere, he should send representatives for talks. | Special Duties Minister Tanimu Turaki said that if Shekau was sincere, he should send representatives for talks. |
| The girls were abducted last month from a school in north-eastern Nigeria. | The girls were abducted last month from a school in north-eastern Nigeria. |
| A video emerged on Monday showing about 130 of the girls reciting Koranic verses. | A video emerged on Monday showing about 130 of the girls reciting Koranic verses. |
| Mr Turaki - who is chairman of a committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to find ways of reaching agreement with Boko Haram - said that Mr Shekau should send people he trusted to meet the standing committee on reconciliation. | |
| He told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that "dialogue is a key option" in bringing the crisis to an end and that "an issue of this nature can be resolved outside of violence". | |
| Correspondents say that the government appears to have changed its stance in relation to talks, because it initially suggested there would be no negotiations with Boko Haram. | |
| Government information agency Director Mike Omeri said late on Monday that the authorities would "use whatever kind of action" it took to free the girls, and that a military operation - with foreign help - was possible. |