Nigerian oil delta rebels announce return to talks

By Estelle Shirbon

ABUJA, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A group of influential rebels and activists from Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta said on Wednesday they wanted to resume peace talks with the government but a faction behind most attacks stayed out of the process.

Rebel commander Government Ekpemupolo, who led attacks on the oil industry in early 2006 that shut down a fifth of Nigerian output, was among those who said they would resume talks. He had formally withdrawn from the process in December.

"(We) have agreed to return to the talks with the federal government for the implementation of the road map towards peace in the Niger Delta," the militants said in a statement after a two-day meeting deep in the creeks of Delta state.

The rebels formally withdrew from the talks in December, accusing the government of insincerity. But Vice President Goodluck Jonathan asked them to return at a meeting last month.

One signatory, Chris Ekiyor of the Ijaw Youth Council, had told Reuters last month the talks would resume after Jonathan, an ethnic Ijaw from the delta, agreed to take charge personally.

But the absence of a key faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which has claimed responsibility for most serious attacks on oil facilities in recent months, means violence is likely to continue.

Oil companies operating in Africa's top producer have been struggling to cope with a wave of violence in the vast wetlands, fuelled by widespread poverty, corruption and lawlessness.

The latest round of violence began in early 2006 when the MEND, a new rebel coalition, blew up oil facilities and abducted dozens of foreign workers in a series of devastating raids.

Since the initial onslaught, which cut 20 percent of national oil output, violence has ebbed and flowed. Worst-hit producer Shell (RDSa.L) has been unable to restore production.

Nigeria changed government last May and hopes were high that new President Umaru Yar'Adua would make good on his pledge to negotiate with the rebels and bring peace to the region.

Ekpemupolo was among several powerful militants whose participation in tentative talks was seen as a hopeful sign.

However, the MEND has repeatedly factionalised. Constantly shifting alliances and changes of position by the different factions have slowed and complicated the talks, while participants complained the government lost its early momentum.

One of the most violent factions of the MEND, the one loyal to commander Henry Okah, pulled out of the talks in September when Okah was arrested in Angola on gun-running charges.

This faction has claimed responsibility for last Saturday's raid on a navy outpost that killed three soldiers, a remote controlled bombing of an oil tanker in January, and dozens of other attacks.

In their statement on Wednesday, Ekpemupolo's group condemned Saturday's attack. Relations between Ekpemupolo and Okah have been up and down for years.

Okah's faction of the MEND has repeatedly condemned the talks, accusing the government of hypocrisy. (Editing by Sami Aboudi)