Deadlock over moves to end oil stand-off

TALKS between Nigerian unions and a US oil firm on ending the occupation by strikers of four oil rigs where 97 foreign workers are trapped ended in deadlock yesterday, union leaders said.

The president of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), Peter Akpatason, said that Transocean Inc was insisting that the rigs be evacuated of all staff.

The Nigerian workers were resisting that position, insisting that they would only leave as part of a standard crew changeover because of fears they would all be sacked if the rigs are left without staff, he said.