나이지리아 반군, 셀 석유시설 공격

(요하네스버그=연합뉴스) 권정상 특파원 = 아프리카 최대 산유국인 나이지리아의 석유 분쟁이 심화되고 있다.

   나이지리아 반군 단체인 니제르델타해방운동(MEND)은 15일 남부 유전지대인 니제르 델타에 위치한 로열 더치 셀의 석유시설을 공격했다고 로이터통신이 전했다.
 이번 공격은 MEND가 전날 정부를 상대로 `석유 전쟁'을 선언한 지 하루 만에 단행된 것이다.

   MEND는 이메일 성명에서 "니제르 델타의 모든 석유회사 직원들에게 석유시설에서 즉각 철수하고 생산을 중단하지 않을 경우 그 책임은 전적으로 자신에게 있다는 경고를 거듭 강조한다"고 밝혔다.

   반군은 이날 새벽 10척의 쾌속선을 동원, 리버스주(州) 알라키리에 있는 셀의 석유시설에 폭탄 공격을 가했다고 이 지역 군 대변인 사기르 무사 중령이 설명했다.

   그러나 이 시설은 이미 반군의 공격으로 폐쇄된 상태였기 때문에 나이지리아의 석유 생산량에는 별다른 영향을 미치지 못한 것으로 알려졌다.

   나이지리아에서는 최근 정부군과 반군 간 교전이 부쩍 잦아졌다. 무사 중령은 최근 3일간 벌어진 교전에서 반군이 막대한 인명피해를 입었으며, 정부군 사망자는 없다고 밝혔다. MEND 측은 그러나 이번 교전에서 정부군 22명과 석유회사 직원 등 7명이 사망했다고 주장했다.

   앞서 MEND는 전날 미국 석유 메이저 셰브런의 원유굴착 플랫폼을 공격했으며, 이 과정에서 직원 2명이 살해되고 정부군 3명이 부상한 것으로 전해졌다.

   jusang@yna.co.kr
(끝)

Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact

Advertisement African leaders shake hands following the signing Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has signed a historic power-sharing deal with his long-time rival, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The two smiled and shook hands at the ceremony in the capital, Harare, attended by African dignitaries. Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement provided the best hope for Zimbabwe and called on President Mugabe to work together to implement the deal. Mr Mugabe said he was committed to national unity and would do "his best". Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara - leader of a breakaway faction of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - signed the agreement in front of some 3,000 invited guests in Harare's International Conference Centre. I've signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwe leaders proclaim new era Speech highlights The signatories were introduced in the terms used in the agreement - Mr Mugabe as president and Mr Tsvangirai as prime minister. To rapturous applause, the leaders shook hands after exchanging signed copies of the accord. Mr Mugabe accused a former colonial power - Britain - of meddling in his country's affairs by calling for a "regime change" and by imposing sanctions. He received loud jeers when he said opposition parties in Zimbabwe and other African nations used violence in order to achieve power. He said there were "lots of things" in the deal that neither leader liked but that they would work together to "find our way". "As long as salient principles are recognised, there will be room for more agreement," Mr Mugabe said. REPORTED DEAL Robert Mugabe: President Heads armed forces Chairs cabinet Zanu-PF has 15 ministers Morgan Tsvangirai: Prime minister Chairs council of ministers Controls police force MDC has 16 ministers - 3 from smaller faction Muted reaction to Zimbabwe deal Zimbabwean readers' views In his speech, Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement was a "product of painful compromises" and that it did not provide "an instant cure" to the fortunes of Zimbabwe. "I've signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe," he said. His hope for the future was stronger than the grief felt for "the needless suffering of the past years", he said. In a gesture of reconciliation, Mr Tsvangirai quoted a speech on reconciliation made by Mr Mugabe in 1980, saying "it is time to turn our swords into ploughshares". Mr Tsvangirai called for the support of the international community and African neighbours in helping to rebuild the country - healthcare, education and economy. The new Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Mutambara, said the compromise agreement was a victory for Zimbabwe. The BBC's George Alagiah in Harare says that the mood among ordinary Zimbabweans is one of relief rather than outright jubilation. People just want to get on with their lives. 'Highly polarised' The full details and content of the deal have not been confirmed but it proposes a 50-50 division of power, with Mr Mugabe remaining head of state and head of the cabinet. Morgan Tsvangarai will head a council of ministers, which will be responsible for the day-to-day managing of the country's affairs. The MDC and its breakaway faction are expected to have 16 ministers, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party will have 15 ministers. HAVE YOUR SAY Let's just say the deal is a step in the right direction GS, Harare Send us your comments The BBC's Adam Mynott says the eyes of Zimbabwe's neighbours, Africa and the whole world will be fixed now on seeing whether this deal does result in a genuine sharing of executive authority. Negotiations started at the end of July, with a breakthrough coming late on Thursday after difficult negotiations mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki. Some MDC members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available. David Coltart, an MP from the smaller MDC faction, said on Friday that most MDC members who are due to become ministers "have at some stage in the last nine years been brutalised on the instructions of those they will now have to work with". The MDC accuses the army and Zanu-PF of organising a campaign of violence against opposition activists to ensure victory in the June presidential run-off. "Zimbabwe remains highly polarised and it will take statesmanship on all sides to make this work," he said in an e-mail to his supporters. 'A new page' The deal opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's economy, where inflation is at more than 11,000,000%. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October. Mr Solana said the EU needed to study the details of the power-sharing agreement but that he expected it to open "a new page" for Zimbabwe. The UK was ready "in principle" to support the new unity government but its backing depended on actions on the ground, said Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman. Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial presidential run-off election in June. He ran unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence. In the first round of the presidential election in March, Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe but official results say he did not pass the 50% threshold for outright victory.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7615906.stm