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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, March 23, 2003

4 Killed in Fresh Clashes in Oil-rich Southern Nigeria

At least four persons including two soldiers have been killed in fresh clashes which erupted Saturday between government troops and ethnic militants in Nigeria's oil-rich southern state of Delta, an army spokesman said.


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At least four persons including two soldiers have been killed in fresh clashes which erupted Saturday between government troops and ethnic militants in Nigeria's oil-rich southern state of Delta, an army spokesman said.

"The situation is getting out of hand," Colonel Chukwuemeka Onwuamaegbu said, adding: "There are no plans for reprisals yet. But a situation whereby they continue to slaughter our men is unacceptable."

The fresh crisis has forced French oil giant TotalFinaElf, the third oil multinational company after the Shell Petroleum Development Company and Chevron-Texaco shut an oil well, evacuating 20 staff and cutting daily production by 20,000 barrels.

The suspension of operations of the three leading oil companiesmeant a loss of 225,000 barrels per day, or 13 percent of Nigeria's normal daily.

As the April general elections are approaching, violence seen frequently occurred in the most populous African country which hasa population of 125 million belonging to 373 ethnic tribes.

The violence in the oil-rich Delta, which had already claimed at least 11 lives, would have possibly affected the world oil market which was already nervous after the US-led military attack on Iraq.

The latest crisis in Warri was the aftermath of a clash last week in the Okerenkoko Village between local youths and soldiers over the control of the waterways.

Due to the bloody incident, socioeconomic activities had paralyzed in the riverine areas of the state.

Nigeria, the largest crude producer in Africa with about 2.2 million barrels per day, is the sixth largest crude exporter in the world. Its economy is currently dominated by crude exportation,accounting for 85 percent of the government revenue and 90 percentof foreign exchange earning.


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