The authorities in the oil-rich southern Nigerian state of Bayelsa say they have lifted a dusk to dawn curfew imposed after protests by militant Ijaw youths demanding a greater share of oil revenue.

However, a spokesman for the military administration, Norman Morris, said a ban on public demonstrations remained.

Troop reinforcements were sent to the region at the weekend.

Meanwhile environmental and human rights activists in Britain have barricaded themselves into offices at the Shell oil company to show solidarity with what they called the indigenous resistance to the oil giant in Nigeria.