Gunmen kidnap Nigeria oil workers

Delta residents say they do not benefit from the oil

Gunmen have kidnapped at least seven foreign workers in oil-rich southern Nigeria, sources in the region say.

They were reportedly in a boat laying pipelines off the Bayelsa State coast when they were attacked.

UK and US officials have confirmed that four of those seized are British citizens and three are Americans.

Such kidnappings are fairly common in the Niger Delta. The hostages are usually released after ransom money is paid but this is always denied.

Some reports suggest an Indian and a South African are also among those seized.

The US Consulate General is Lagos says it is notifying families of the American hostages.

None of the hostages have yet been identified.

Oil workers strike

Meanwhile, long queues have formed outside Nigeria's petrol stations on the second day of a strike by oil workers, demanding welfare benefits.

More than 100 foreign workers and a few Nigerians have been kidnapped so far this year in the swampy creeks of the Niger Delta where the bulk of Nigeria's oil comes from.

Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer.

Although the country's oil money comes from the Niger Delta, most people in the region remain deeply impoverished.

The militants often say they are fighting for larger control of the oil money and demand the release of two leaders being held on charges of treason and money laundering.

The militants - the most prominent of which is the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) - stepped up their attacks after last month's elections which gave the governing party a landslide victory.

Local and international observers have criticised the vote as deeply flawed. The opposition says it was rigged and has called for a re-run.

In addition to kidnappings, the militants have also bombed several oil pipelines, cutting production and helping push world oil prices to near-record highs.

The militants have promised more disruptions ahead of next week's inauguration of the new government.