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Nigeria abducted girls: France summit on Boko Haram threat New attacks as France hosts summit on Boko Haram threat
(about 3 hours later)
A security summit has opened in Paris on the threat from Boko Haram Islamists, after they abducted more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria in April. West African leaders are meeting in Paris to discuss the threat posed by Nigeria's Boko Haram militants.
Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, who is attending the talks, had to call off a visit to the town where the girls were seized for security reasons. Thousands of people have been killed by the group in recent years. Last month it abducted 223 schoolgirls in north-eastern Nigeria, where it is based.
As West African leaders arrived, reports emerged of suspected Boko Haram attack in Cameroon. As Saturday's summit began, news of fresh violence emerged.
Ten people are reported missing. An attack in northern Cameroon, near the Nigerian border, targeted Chinese workers. In Nigeria, 11 people were reported killed in a separate incident.
One person was hurt when militants attacked a Chinese camp near Cameroon's porous with north-eastern Nigeria. In that attack Boko Haram fighters are said to have targeted a village a few hours' drive from the Cameroonian border on Friday.
Those missing had been working for Chinese company Sinohydro, China's state news agency Xinhua reported. A relative of one of the victims said a woman and a child were among the dead.
Militants have staged several attacks in Cameroon; last year they kidnapped several members of a French family, who were later released. The attack in the far north of Cameroon occurred at camp run by a Chinese construction company.
Boko Haram released a video earlier this week showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners. Their relatives have called for their unconditional release. Chinese diplomats said 10 people were missing and one person injured. There are reports that one person was killed.
As the Paris meeting opened, French President Francois Hollande called Boko Haram a "major threat" to West and Central Africa, and said it had "proven links" with al-Qaeda and other militant groups.
The summit is also attended by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and his counterparts from neighbouring Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.
Representatives from the UK, US and EU are also taking part.
Border disputes
A statement before the summit said the leaders would "discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa".
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC from Paris that Cameroon and Nigeria had an important role to play in pooling their intelligence.
However he said they had "not enjoyed strong positive relations in recent years".
Boko Haram has some of its bases in the Mandara mountain range that straddles the border. But the frontier has been disputed in at least two places in recent years.
Mr Jonathan was due on Friday to visit to the town where the girls were seized. However the trip was cancelled for security reasons.
Boko Haram released a video earlier this week showing more than 100 of the girls and offering an exchange for prisoners.
The girls, a mixture of Christians and Muslims, were seized on 14 April from their school hostel in the north-east Nigerian town of Chibok in Borno state.The girls, a mixture of Christians and Muslims, were seized on 14 April from their school hostel in the north-east Nigerian town of Chibok in Borno state.
President Jonathan has ruled out negotiations over their possible release, government officials say. President Jonathan has ruled out negotiations over their possible release, officials say.
'Fresh strategies' Mr Hollande discussed the kidnapping on Friday in a phone call with US President Barack Obama.
French President Francois Hollande was to open the Saturday's summit, and the leaders of Nigeria's neighbours - Benin, Cameroon, Niger and Chad - were scheduled to attend the talks. Representatives from the UK, US and EU were also taking part. The safe return of the girls was now one of America's main priorities, with US specialist teams and drones being involved in the rescue operation, the White House said.
A statement before the summit said delegates at the meeting will "discuss fresh strategies for dealing with the security threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in West and Central Africa".
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague told the BBC from Paris that Cameroon and Nigeria in particular had an important role to play in pooling their intelligence.
"There are many borders here and they are porous. The first focus of everything we're doing is about the girls now, but that requires these countries to work together. Cameroon and Nigeria... have not enjoyed strong positive relations in recent years."
Mr Hollande discussed the issue on Friday in a phone call with US President Barack Obama.
The safe return of the 223 girls was now one of America's main priorities, with US specialist teams and drones being involved in the rescue operation, the White House said.
France is also providing Nigeria with expert assistance to help release the girls.France is also providing Nigeria with expert assistance to help release the girls.
US officials have criticised the speed of Nigeria's response to the threat from Boko Haram.