Thais kidnapped by Nigeria rebels are freed
Two Thai workers were among six oil workers who were released on Wednesday after being kidnapped 11 days ago.
The Thais were Semsak Mhadmhe and Arak Suwami. The others awere US national Malcolm Hawkins, who turned 68 on Wednesday, Filipino Anthony Santos, and Egyptians Shadety Senary and Feisal Mohammed.
Still held are Cody Oswalt and Russel Spell, both Americans, and John Hudsmith, a Briton. No reason was given for the continued holding of the three.
The nine men, employees of Houston, Texas-based oil service company Willbros Group Inc. were kidnapped on February 18 while laying pipes for Royal Dutch Shell in the Niger Delta.
Their abductors were operating under the aegis of an ethnic Ijaw pressure group, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).
The militants say they are fighting for freedom from Nigeria and control of the Niger Delta's oil.
Meanwhile Thai caretaker Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said both Thais will return home and is scheduled to arrive Bangkok tomorrow at about 6pm.
He was speaking after meeting with new Nigeria Ambassador Thompson Sunday Olufunso Olumoko.
Olumok said his government will take care of some 300 Thais who are working in Nigeria.
Agence France Presse/The Nation
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