Kidnappers in Nigeria today released a Briton and an American seized by gunmen in speedboats last week from a vessel off the country’s oil-rich southern coast, a government official said.

All six kidnapped British oil workers in Nigeria have been released, it was announced today.

Four foreign oil workers held hostage by a militia in southern Nigeria for more than two weeks were released today, a regional government spokesman said.

The leader of Nigerian militants who captured four foreign oil workers said today he would not talk with negotiators sent by the government and reiterated threats to launch new attacks on oil installations.