LOC17:20
14:20 GMT
PARIS, Nov 8 (KUNA) -- The French government indicated on Monday that two
of its nationals were likely to have been among hostages taken by armed men
from an oil rig off the coast of Nigeria earlier in the day.
The Foreign Ministry said that it was working with the Bourbon offshore
services company to secure the release of the Frenchmen. Three other Western
hostages are also believed to have been taken captive by suspected
anti-government militants who frequently employ kidnapping as a tactic to get
funding.
The French officials said that they were not in a position to confirm the
location of the kidnapping and called for "discretion" while efforts are
underway to resolve the problem and get the men released.
Despite the initial indications here, French officials said they were
nonetheless still waiting for confirmation of the nationalities of those
abducted. (end).
jk.gta
KUNA 081720 Nov 10NNNN