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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: Friday, 1 October, 2004, 16:19 GMT 17:19 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Nigeria oil truce in the balance Asari wants the Ijaws to benefit more from Nigeria's oil wealth President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria has expressed confidence that recent violence in the oil-rich Niger Delta can be contained and peace return. In an Independence Day address to the nation, Mr Obasanjo confirmed talks with "rascally elements" that had threatened foreign oil workers. Militia leader Mujahid Dokubo Asari had threatened "all out war" from Friday, but on Wednesday announced a truce. However, he warned that the agreed ceasefire was not being respected. Police say there have been no clashes in the Delta. "The situation in River State is calm. There is no firing from any sides. There is no firing at all," Silvester Araba, the police commissioner for Port Harcourt, the region's capital, told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. Talks involving the government and Mr Asari are continuing in Abuja on Friday. Nigeria is the world's seventh largest exporter of oil, but 70% of the population live in poverty. 'Red alert' In pictures: Fighting for oil However, he said routine patrols are continuing and the security forces remained on "red alert". Mr Asari is the leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force and says he is fighting for Ijaw people's rights in the Niger Delta, but officials dismiss him as an oil thief. On Wednesday, he said a truce had been agreed with the president, but refused to disarm until his key demands of self-determination and control of resources were discussed. In a speech to the nation to mark Nigeria's 44th anniversary of independence, President Obasanjo said the militants felt aggrieved by the actions of the state authorities. He called on officials to be more responsive to the "plight of the people they are elected to govern". Oil smuggling The group's threat against foreign workers in the southern oil region was seen as one reason why oil prices hit record highs of $50 a barrel this week. Mr Asari went into hiding in 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. The BBC's Anna Borzello in Nigeria says the Niger Delta holds the bulk of Nigeria's oil reserves but the area is under-developed and riven by conflict, often caused by armed gangs involved in the lucrative trade of smuggling crude oil. 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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