Nigerian kidnappers release four, but not Irishman

Nigerian militants have released four foreign oil workers they had been holding hostage since last week.

The two Ukrainians and two Norwegians were freed in the southern city of Port Harcourt yesterday.

They were among 14 foreign oil-industry employees, including Irishman Brian Fogarty, kidnapped during separate incident across the Niger Delta in the past 10 days.

Nine of them have since been freed, but Mr Fogarty, from Oughterard in Co Galway, is among those still being held in captivity.

Foreign oil workers are frequently kidnapped in Nigeria and most are released unharmed after their employers pay a ransom.