Ten Nigeria militants die trying to free hostage

LAGOS, Aug 21 (Reuters) A Nigerian militant group said today 10 of its fighters were killed while they were trying to release a Royal Dutch Shell employee in the southern state of Bayelsa who had been taken hostage.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said in an email that a gunfight between militants and soldiers erupted yesterday night after militants went to help release the Shell worker, a Nigerian, who was abducted on August 8.

''We sent out 14 fighters to effect the release of a Shell worker held in Bayelsa state. This was successfully effected and on the way back, they were ambushed by about 10 JTF (Joint Task Force) gunboats,'' MEND said in its email.

''They were attacked without provocation or warning and we lost 10 of the 14 fighters in this attack,'' it added.

MEND said the Shell worker was in one of its boats when they were attacked, but it did not know whether he was killed.

The Shell worker was abducted during a routine visit to the community of Letugbene, in the presence of Bayelsa state government officials. Industry sources said the state government had been leading negotiations to secure his freedom.

REUTERS SP BD1926