Amnesty claims up to 500 killed in past month in Nigerian oil city

Amnesty International claimed that up to 500 people were killed in clashes between rival armed gangs in the Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt in the past month. "Up to 500 civilians are thought to have been killed and an unconfirmed number of persons were injured in fighting between rival armed groups, as reported to Amnesty International by reliable sources," the international rights body said in a letter to Rivers State governor, Peter Odili, a copy of which was made available to AFP here. Port Harcourt is the hub of Nigeria's oil industry. Several international oil giants and oilfield service companies have offices and workshops there. [more ]