Nigerian militia storm U.S.-run oil platform

[tocqueville]

Violence breaks out after arrest of militia leader

Thursday, September 22, 2005 Posted: 1603 GMT (0003 HKT)

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (Reuters) -- More than 100 armed militants stormed a U.S.-operated oil production platform in Nigeria and forced it to close on Thursday in response to the arrest of an ethnic militia leader on treason charges.

Armed with assault rifles, the fighters invaded the Idama platform operated by Chevron in the southern Niger Delta, escalating a simmering political crisis in the world's eighth largest oil exporter.

"Eight boats, each carrying 15 armed people occupied the Idama flow station. Six government security forces had their weapons taken from them," a source close to Chevron said.

"Apparently the militants are now heading for more stations. The situation can only get worse."

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/africa/09/22/nigeria.security.reut/index.html

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. well, oil is gonna be REAL short. Losing these, the gulf.. the iraq

pipeline.

Oh joy

[derby378]

2. Wasn't Nigerian Ken Sarawiwa hanged for opposing Shell's pollution policy?

Shell has apparently caused a lot of environmental damage in Nigeria with pollution, and activists who speak out often find themselves marked for death by the Nigerian government.

[Theduckno2]

3. More terrists for Bush to deal with.

He'll scrape together sufficient military forces and attack Venezuala.

[political_invader]

5. Even Worse Iran

Rummy and Cheney are just looking for a reson to Nuke Iran.

[Angry Girl]

4. This is BIG! Rec'd!