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Romanians to visit oil rig seized by Iran LONDON, August 24 (IranMania) - Two Romanian diplomats are en route to a Romanian oil rig in the Persian Gulf seized by Iranian authorities following a trade dispute, the Mediafax agency said. Romanian charge d'affaires to Teheran, Mircea Has, was also expected to call on the Iranian foreign ministry to protest what Bucharest described as a "disproportionate act," the agency added. The Iranians "could have resolved the problem a thousand other ways, without resorting to military action, especially because it was a civilian structure," he added.

Speedboat attack on Nigeria rig Last week gunmen attacked another platform kidnapping staff Gunmen using speedboats have clashed with Nigerian soldiers as they attacked an oil platform operated by Shell in the Niger Delta. A Shell spokesman said five workers were injured in the attack on the Benisede oil station in Bayelsa state. There are unconfirmed reports that some soldiers defending the platform and gunmen died in the attack. On Wednesday gunmen kidnapped four foreign workers from another Shell oil rig in the Niger delta region. The hostages, who are still being held, come from the UK, the US, Honduras...

Windsurfing in the Persian GulfWHY JOHN KERRY IS DANGEROUS FOR AMERICA by Mia T, 9.24.04 Kerry is UNFIT #21: THUMBSUCKER SERIES-BOARDHEAD TO THE RESCUE- (viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE) "I mean, I was in Safwan. I went there when the signing of the armistice took place at the end of the war." John KerryThe O'Reilly Factor, 2001 ohn Kerry's odd phrasing, above, suggests he was more likely windsurfing in the Persian Gulf than witnessing the signing of the Gulf-War cease fire. (Kerry's prior relevant vote, as well as his tawdry dilettantish tendencies, would tend to support this...

Nigerian navy prepares to attack oil rig THE Nigerian navy was last night preparing to seize the THE Nigerian navy was last night preparing to seize the strike-hit oil rigs off West Africa, where 35 British hostages have been warned they will be killed if there is any attempt to take the installations by force. Warships were ordered into the area after talks in Lagos failed to bring about a peaceful end to the wildcat dispute. Nigerian oil workers on the four US-owned drilling rigs have threatened to blow up at least one of the platforms should it be boarded....

LAGOS (AFP) - The Nigerian navy launched an operation Wednesday to secure four offshore oil platforms where a strike has trapped 97 British, US and European workers, the force's spokesman told AFP. Captain Sinefi Hungiapuko said the navy would try to retake the platforms without violence. According to e-mail messages sent from the rigs by foreign staff, the Nigerian strikers have threatened to resist. "The navy is directly involved now," he said. "We are trying to make sure things are settled peacefully. The navy is in the area. Our men will move to take control of the rigs ......

97 held hostage on oil rigs fear for their lives97 held hostage on oil rigs Rory Carroll Africa correspondent, and Owen Bowcott Wednesday April 30, 2003The GuardianDozens of British and American oil workers are being held hostage on four rigs off Nigeria's coast by local colleagues in a bizarre drama which has been kept secret for 12 days, it emerged yesterday. Several captives have allegedly been put in containers and dangled by cranes over the sea and others threatened with death in an apparent attempt by striking Nigerian workers to intimidate managers. At least 35 Britons and 21 Americans are...

nothing follows - BREAKING...

FBI alert triggered by 'Mideast' truckers Pair reportedly tried to put unleaded gasinto 18-wheeler at Colorado gas station Two men described as 'Middle Eastern' seen driving a semi-truck that made a stop at a Colorado gas station are the focus of a nationwide alert issued by the FBI, according to a report by KUSA-TV in Denver. The men driving the 18-wheeler reportedly stopped at a Hess station Thursday afternoon in the town of Byers, about forty miles east of Denver. The FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force got involved when an attendant saw the men apparently trying to put unleaded gasoline...

DENVER - Concern among members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force has surfaced in Colorado. A semi-truck driving through the state on Thursday afternoon apparently triggered a nationwide alert going out to law enforcement agencies across the state Friday night. Only a few specifics of the alert were released. Apparently, it stems from what happened at a Sinclair gas station in Byers around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Byers is about 40 miles east of Denver on I-70. Two men described as Middle Eastern in an 18-wheeler with a white tractor truck apparently tried to put unleaded gasoline into the truck....

Workers evacuated from North Sea oil rig after explosion. More soon.