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News Sport Weather World Service Languages Low Graphics version | Change edition About BBC News | Feedback | Help News Front Page Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science/Nature Technology Entertainment ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Week at a Glance Country Profiles In Depth Programmes LANGUAGES MORE > Last Updated: Saturday, 2 October, 2004, 09:34 GMT 10:34 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Nigeria Delta rebels agree truce Clashes between rebels and security forces have escalated Rebel leaders in Nigeria's Delta region have tentatively agreed to disarm, raising hopes of an end to fighting and attacks on oil installations. One leader, Moujahid Dokubo Asari, said the government had recognised that different groups had a right to partly control their natural resources. But Mr Asari said he still opposed the presence of foreign firms in the area. Uncertainty over Nigerian oil output helped push world oil prices to more than $50 a barrel on Friday. Mr Asari had threatened "all out war" if demands for self-determination for the Ijaw people and a greater share of the country's oil wealth were not met. In pictures: Fighting for oil "We've agreed tentatively to disarmament, but all the issues must be taken together, including the demands for self-determination and control of our resources," he told the AP news agency after talks with government officials. Mr Asari is the leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force. Officials reject his claim to be fighting for self-determination and dismiss him as an oil thief. But despite going into hiding in the Delta earlier this year, Mr Asari was invited to the capital Abuja for the latest talks. The area has also seen seven years of ethnic fighting between Ijaw and Itsekiri militias. Production threat A statement on Friday by the Nigerian presidency said Mr Asari had also agreed to disarm and disband his militia, but this has not been confirmed by the rebels. Asari has not confirmed he is disbanding his militia "The groups affirm commitment to the peace offer by the president, promise to cease all hostilities against themselves and all economic and social interests of the Nigerian state," the statement, quoted by AFP news agency, said. Mr Asari had threatened foreign workers and said all foreign oil companies should cease all production by Friday. In an Independence Day address on Friday, President Olusegun Obasanjo referred to the rebels as "rascally elements", but said a rapprochement was taking place. The Nigerian president called on state officials to be more responsive to the plight of the people they were elected to govern. Nigeria is the world's seventh largest exporter of oil, but 70% of the population live in poverty. Mr Asari and his followers took to the creeks of River State earlier this year, and hundreds of people have died in subsequent clashes with the police, navy and rival gangs. Fighting has intensified in the last month since the military launched a major operation against the group. Last week, Shell pulled out more than 200 of its non-essential staff from two gas and oil fields because of heightened tensions. Mr Asari has said negotiations with the government will resume on 8 October. E-mail this to a friend Printable version LINKS TO MORE AFRICA STORIES SelectNigeria Delta rebels agree truceThousands more troops for DarfurEU backs African asylum projectUN to boost DR Congo peace forceMore migrants reach Italian soilLiberia refugees return homeMedication warning over RamadanRefugees in Zambia face food cutsTrio join World Cup raceCharges over Sudan 'coup plot'Russia jails killers of AfricanLibya demands permanent UN seatConcerns over EU 'transit camps'Nigeria holds 'Taleban' militantLibya denies Mauritania coup linkNigeria 'agrees' Delta oil truceWho are Sudan's Darfur rebels?Desperate measures in ZimbabweFootball hairdo alarm in NigeriaCan women save the planet?Do you have a story to tell?Send us your pictures of AfricaProgrammes and schedules  BBC NEWS: VIDEO AND AUDIO Mujahid Dokubo Asari demands self-determination FROM OTHER NEWS SITES: Herald Tribune Nigeria Militia Leader to Disarm Fighters - 12 hrs ago CNN Oil's first close above $50 - 13 hrs ago MSNBC U.S. crude ends week above $50 a barrel - 14 hrs ago New York Times Oil Closes Over $50 as Market Eyes Nigeria - 16 hrs ago Washington Post Oil Ends Above $50 on Nigeria Fears - 17 hrs ago About these results The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites SEE ALSO: Nigeria's oil capital under siege 08 Sep 04  |  Africa Gun battles in Nigeria oil region 14 Jul 04  |  Africa Security sweep in Nigeria's Delta 31 May 04  |  Africa Nigeria head vows to find pirates 25 Apr 04  |  Africa Who benefits from Africa's oil? 09 Mar 04  |  Africa RELATED BBC LINKS: Focus on Africa RELATED INTERNET LINKS: Nigerian government The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP AFRICA STORIES NOW Nigeria Delta rebels agree truce Thousands more troops for Darfur EU backs African asylum project UN to boost DR Congo force News alerts | E-mail services | Desktop ticker | Mobiles/PDAs Back to top ^^ News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia UK | Business | Entertainment | Science/Nature | Technology | Health Have Your Say | In Pictures | Week at a Glance | Country Profiles | In Depth | Programmes BBC Homepage >> | BBC Sport >> | BBC Weather >> | BBC World Service >> About BBC News | Help | Feedback | News sources | Privacy & Cookies Policy | About the BBC

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