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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Intervene in Nigeria, Bush urged | Intervene in Nigeria, Bush urged |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A leading militant group from Nigeria's oil region has written to US President George Bush, asking him to help solve their dispute with the government. | A leading militant group from Nigeria's oil region has written to US President George Bush, asking him to help solve their dispute with the government. |
| In their open letter, the militants pointed out that the US receives a large proportion of its crude oil from the Niger Delta. | In their open letter, the militants pointed out that the US receives a large proportion of its crude oil from the Niger Delta. |
| President Bush is on a tour of Africa but Nigeria is not on his itinerary. | President Bush is on a tour of Africa but Nigeria is not on his itinerary. |
| Attacks by militants have drastically cut Nigeria's production and helped drive up the price of oil. | Attacks by militants have drastically cut Nigeria's production and helped drive up the price of oil. |
| The appeal came from a faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) loyal to Henry Okah. | The appeal came from a faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) loyal to Henry Okah. |
| Mr Okah was extradited from Angola to Nigeria last week. His exact whereabouts are not known. | Mr Okah was extradited from Angola to Nigeria last week. His exact whereabouts are not known. |
| The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria's militants have used Mr Bush's trip as an opportunity to attract publicity. | The BBC's Alex Last in Lagos says Nigeria's militants have used Mr Bush's trip as an opportunity to attract publicity. |
| Last month they tried to invite the Hollywood actor George Clooney to intervene in the crisis. | Last month they tried to invite the Hollywood actor George Clooney to intervene in the crisis. |
| Criminal activities | Criminal activities |
| The militant faction is demanding the release of Mr Okah following his extradition. | The militant faction is demanding the release of Mr Okah following his extradition. |
| Mend claimed he was being held at a secret location in northern Nigeria, but ministers in Abuja have not commented. | Mend claimed he was being held at a secret location in northern Nigeria, but ministers in Abuja have not commented. |
| Mr Okah is a founder of Mend. He was arrested in Angola five months ago on arms trafficking charges. | Mr Okah is a founder of Mend. He was arrested in Angola five months ago on arms trafficking charges. |
| The group came to prominence in the Delta two years ago when it cut Nigerian oil production by a quarter. | The group came to prominence in the Delta two years ago when it cut Nigerian oil production by a quarter. |
| While other militant groups have called a ceasefire after being offered government incentives, Mr Okah's faction has remained active. | While other militant groups have called a ceasefire after being offered government incentives, Mr Okah's faction has remained active. |
| They have carried out a series of attacks in the region since his arrest last September. | They have carried out a series of attacks in the region since his arrest last September. |
| Earlier this month, Nigeria's government told all oil companies which had fled attacks in the Niger Delta to return or stop working, saying the area was now safe. | |
| Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer but more than half of its people live in poverty. | Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer but more than half of its people live in poverty. |
| Our correspondent says although the people of the Delta have genuine grievances, many of the armed groups are thought to be involved in criminal activities. | Our correspondent says although the people of the Delta have genuine grievances, many of the armed groups are thought to be involved in criminal activities. |