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Armed militant group in Nigeria spurns Obasanjo's amnesty offer
AFP
LAGOS
Petroleumworld.com 03 29 07The most high-profile armed group in Nigeria's volatile oil-rich south Wednesday poured scorn on President Olusegun Obasanjo's offer of an amnesty to militant youths in the region who renounce violence.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said Obasanjo, rather than the militants, is the one that needs to be amnestied.
"Obasanjo has still not appreciated the gravity of the situation he is faced with. It is he who should be pleading for amnesty for all the evil he committed while in office," a MEND spokesman said in an email.
"There will be genuine amnesty for those who turn (over a) new leaf and hand over their weapons," Obasanjo said Tuesday in Abuja, adding: "but I will not give amnesty to somebody who will point a gun at the head of somebody."
The MEND spokesman reiterated his group's warning of preparing for "war" against the Nigerian security forces.
"It is common knowledge to Boladei Igali (Obasanjo's advisor on Niger Delta) and the Bayelsa State government that new camps are being opened as we are acquiring more and better weapons," he said in the email.
"We will respond in kind to these hollow words (of Obasanjo) in days to come. We will show the Nigerian government what we think of this offer," he added.Since the start of last year well over 100 foreigners have been kidnapped in the Niger delta. Some 40 Nigerian security officers have been killed and numerous oil facilities damaged.
AFP 28 1626 GMT 03 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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