Nigeria rebels 'rescue' hostages

Numerous armed gangs operate in the Niger Delta

A militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region has handed over two German hostages kidnapped last month.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) said they rescued the two men from another militant group who had kidnapped them.

They are being treated for injuries they suffered during their kidnapping, the German foreign ministry told the Associated Press news agency.

Kidnapping foreign workers has become a lucrative business for Delta gangs.

The construction company the pair worked for, Julius Berger, suspended its operations in the Niger Delta after the kidnapping in July.

It is the first time a militant group has rescued hostages from another.

'Commandos'

Observers say it is an attempt by the militant group to separate themselves from the criminal gangs that have overrun the Niger Delta.

It was decided to go in and rescue them on humanitarian grounds because one of them was seriously injured Negotiator Rev Stephen Davis Elusive peace in oil Delta

"An elite commando unit from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) concluded a successful rescue of the two German hostages and staff of Julius Berger PLC," an email sent to journalists by the group said.

Mend said the rescue was completed without a shot being fired.

Jurgen Vetten, 43, and Bernd Mechlen, 60, were being held inside a "heavily fortified hideout", the email said.

Mr Mechlen was said to have been badly injured in the kidnap, in which militants blew up an armoured car in a convoy, killing one soldier.

They were handed over by Mend to the head of the government agency, the Niger Delta Development Commission, who in turn handed them over to the State Security Services.

Earlier this month, the group issued a threat to employees of Julius Berger warning them to get out of the country or face "deadly attacks".

The group's spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, said that had been a ruse to get close to the militant group behind the kidnapping.

'Change in tactics'

Stephen Davis, who works with a religious group trying to broker a peace deal between the militans and the government, said Mend offered to rescue the Germans in return for a telephone conversation with their jailed leader Henry Okah.

"When they couldn't get the phone call it was decided to go in and rescue them on humanitarian grounds because one of them was seriously injured," Rev Davis of Coventry Cathedral's Centre for International Reconciliation told the BBC News website.

He believes this change in tactics shows that Mend is ready to talk about a lasting solution to the problems of the Niger Delta.

Militant groups often say they are fighting for a better deal for their people.

But in the Niger Delta a collapse in law and order has allowed armed groups to make a living extorting money from oil companies that have to keep their operations going.

"Mend can exert an influence on these groups," Rev Davis said.