LAGOS (Reuters) - Four foreign oil workers kidnapped by militants in Nigeria spoke to Reuters by telephone on their sixth day in captivity on Monday, reading out their captors' demands and warning against attempted rescue.
The kidnappers have staged a series of attacks on oil pipelines, platforms and workers over the past three weeks, denting supply from the world's eighth largest exporter and driving up world prices.
The four hostages -- an American, a Briton, a Bulgarian and a Honduran -- said in what appeared to be prepared statements that they were being treated well, but that any attempted military intervention or rescue could cost them their lives.
``I'd like to contact my family and let them know that I am alright and everything with us is good,'' said a man who identified himself as Harry Ebanks from Honduras. ``The only thing (is) the environment is not good with us because there is a lot of mosquitoes and it is dangerous for us.''
The Briton, who identified himself as Nigel Watson-Clark, read out a list of five demands by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, with a 48 hour deadline.
``The Nigerian government should not make any military intervention. Okay? They should not make any attempt to rescue us as it has been made clear that it may result in the loss of our lives,'' he said.
A man identifying himself as Patrick Landry, a U.S. citizen, said: ``No military intervention is a must. This climate in the conditions we're in is not conducive to us, especially as I am an older man and my health is not good.''
He added: ``I'd like y'all to contact my family and let them know that I'm alright, these people are treating me good, but the climate is not what it should be.''
Royal Dutch Shell evacuated 330 workers from four oil platforms after the latest attack on Sunday, and is considering more withdrawals amid uncertainty over where the militants will strike next, a senior oil industry source said.
The militant group has vowed to stop all oil exports from Nigeria and advised workers to leave the delta or die.
DEMANDS
The group demands local control of the Niger Delta's oil wealth, payment of $1.5 billion by Royal Dutch Shell to the Bayelsa state government to compensate for pollution, and the release of three men including two ethnic Ijaw leaders, the British hostage said.
``If the Nigerian government does not meet these demands in 48 hours, whatever happens is in their own doing,'' he said, asking Britain to put pressure on Nigeria to negotiate.
Analysts say the violence is also part of growing regional rion people live in poverty alongside a multibillion-dollar industry.
Ruled by military dictators for most of its history since independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria returned to civilian government in 1999, but ethnic militia and organized thuggery remain a feature of political life.
Much of the rhetoric of militant Niger Delta groups is echoed by regional politicians, who have demanded a greater share of the oil wealth and the right to pick the ruling party candidate for elections in 2007.
``This is a period when both sides who claim power in Nigeria are going to extremes,'' said Pini Jason, a newspaper columnist, in reference to the country's North/South rivalry.