Nigeria rebels welcome Okah release, want peace talks

ABUJA, July 13 (Reuters) - Nigeria's most prominent militant group on Monday welcomed the government's release of rebel leader Henry Okah and said it was open to talks to restore peace in the Niger Delta.

"MEND considers this release as a step towards genuine peace and prosperity if Nigeria is open to frank talks and deals sincerely with the root issues once and for all," the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in a statement. (Reporting by Randy Fabi; Editing by Angus MacSwan