MSNBC: Nigerian rebels: ‘All-out war’ to start Friday: The rebel group’s leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, accused Royal Dutch Shell, Nigeria’s largest oil producer… …of “collaboration with the Nigerian state in acts of genocide against our people.” (ShellNews.net)

Dutch, Italian oil companies accused of ‘genocide’

Posted Sept. 28, 2004

LAGOS, Nigeria - The Nigerian rebel group fighting government troops in the oil-rich Niger delta said Monday it will launch “all-out war on the Nigerian state” beginning Friday and advised all oil companies to shut production by then.

The Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force, in a communiqué issued after a meeting of its central command, also advised all foreigners to leave the delta, which pumps all of Nigeria’s production of 2.3 million barrels per day.

The rebel group’s leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, accused Royal Dutch Shell, Nigeria’s largest oil producer, and Agip of Italy of “collaboration with the Nigerian state in acts of genocide against our people.”

The offensive will continue until the government agrees to negotiate self-determination for the Ijaw people, who form a majority in the delta, Asari said.

Asari said his group would not attack oil installations because it did not want to pollute the delta environment, but he said foreign oil workers would be targeted.

Oil prices leap

Following the announcement, crude oil futures jumped 36 cents in electronic trading in New York, to $50 a barrel, the highest in the 21 years oil futures have traded on the exchange.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6116868/