Abuja  - The Cocoa Association of Nigeria (CAN) Wednesday urged the Nigerian government to buy off banned pesticides still in the possession of the country's cocoa farmers.

The request came on the heels of a letter by the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO) to Nigeria and other cocoa producing countries to reduce the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) in cocoa beans to 0.1 mg as of September 1, 2008.

The initiative by the European Union is a response to scientific reports that high residue levels in cocoa beans were harmful to humans.

Abuja- The militant Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta Wednesday threatened to destroy a major crude oil pipeline in the region's Chanomi Creek and other pipelines in the next 30 days.

It said in an email that this was was to prove it was not party to a deal between the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in which 12 million dollars was paid to some groups to protect oil pipelines in the region.

Nairobi/Abuja - Nigerian militants responsible for crippling attacks on the West African nation's oil industry said Thursday they would call off a ceasefire after Britain promised to support the Ni

Nairobi/Niamey  - Twenty-six government soldiers and seven rebels have been killed in clashes in Niger, the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) said in a statement.

The rebel group said that the commander of the unit involved in the fighting on Friday was also missing.

Niger's authorities confirmed that the battle took place, but said that none of its soldiers were killed.

The MNJ, which consists mainly of the nomadic Tuareg people, has carried out a series of attacks on the Nigerian military and foreign mining interests since early 2007.

Rebels want a bigger share in the profits from the uranium mines in the north of the country.