July 12, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 26, 1428

LAGOS: Gunmen on Wednesday released five foreigners, a week after they were seized from an Anglo-Dutch Shell oil rig in southern Nigeria, police and government sources said.

“The men were released this afternoon, and they have been taken to the government House in Yenagoa”, Inyebom Inidong, Bayelsa police spokesman said.

A correspondent at the scene confirmed that the hostages, two New Zealanders, one Australian, one Lebanese and one Venezuelan, were in audience with state governor Timipre Silva.The foreigners, all employees of Lone Star Drilling company, were seized last Wednesday while drilling a well for Shell in the Soku region of the Rivers state.—AFP