Nigeria oil rig crisis unresolved

Mr Akpatson warned the navy against getting involved

Deployment of the Nigerian navy has failed to resolve a standoff in which angry oil workers have seized control of four rigs with nearly 100 foreign workers aboard.

Talks to end the occupation ended in deadlock on Wednesday.

Ninety-seven foreign workers, including some 20 Americans and 30 Britons, have been trapped on the platforms since 19 April, but parties on both sides of the dispute have been reluctant to describe them as hostages.

The workers say they are protesting against working conditions and the sacking of five colleagues.

Oil prices rose slightly on Wednesday as talks failed to resolve the crisis in one of the world's largest oil-exporting nations.

The standoff "clearly demonstrates that the situation in Nigeria is anything but calm yet," Commerzbank analyst David Thomas told the French news agency AFP.

Oil exports from Nigeria are interrupted regularly by instability in the country.

Landing pads blocked

The rigs' operators say strikers have blockaded helicopter landing pads, so preventing anyone from leaving.

Some crew members started running around the rig with a fire axe

E-mail from oil worker

One worker's e-mail diary

As the stalemate continued, the Nigerian navy moved two ships to the area.

Navy spokesman Captain Sinefi Hungiapuko told the BBC he hoped to end the siege through dialogue but that the navy had been authorised to use force.

Conditions on board the rigs are worsening and some of the trapped foreigners are afraid for their safety.

"If these people start to think they have lost everything, then they will no longer see a need to keep us alive," one worker wrote to his family.

Another e-mail said that the strikers had threatened to blow up the oil rigs if their demands are not met.

Argument against force

A representative of those held hostage, Jake Molloy from the OILC in Aberdeen, said if Transocean, the Houston-based company which owns the rigs, forcibly removed the strikers, the situation would worsen.

The union and company representatives held four hours of talks in Lagos on Wednesday to try to resolve the stand-off.

The workers want to know they will not be sacked if they leave

But Peter Akpatason, president of the largest oil workers union, said the rigs' owners were insisting that everyone leave the platforms without firm guarantees they would not lose their jobs.

He also expressed concern that the navy's involvement could raise tensions.

The navy spokesman said the force's mission was just the opposite.

"We are trying to make sure things are settled peacefully," Captain Hungiapuko said.

But when asked what the navy would do if it encountered resistance, Captain Hungiapuko replied: "What action would you expect military men to take?"

Reassurance

A UK Foreign Office spokesman in London said they had been assured by the Nigerian Navy that reports it was moving immediately to take control of the rigs were untrue.

Transocean spokesman Guy Cantwell insisted the situation was under control.

"Everything remains relatively calm and safe on the rigs.

"We are working to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible."

Such disputes are not uncommon and usually end peacefully after a protracted period of negotiation. It is rare for hostages to be harmed.

Nigeria is the world's sixth largest oil exporter, with an Opec export quota of more than two million barrels per day.