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| British hostage 'rejects' release offer, now honorary MEND member
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Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) -
British hostage Mathew Maguire, who was due to be freed
by his captors Monday night as his 'birthday gift', has rejected the offer, the
M
ovement for the Emancipation of the
Niger Delta (MEND) said.
''Mr Mathew Maguire has declined the gift of a release from captivity with an ar
gument that he is now an
advocate for change in the region and a honorary member of the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger
Delta (MEND).
''He insists that his release should only be considered when (MEND leader) Henry
Okah is freed to participate in
a credible peace process or has been allowed to travel for his urgent kidney sur
gery,'' MEND said in a statement
e-mailed to the media Monday night.
The militants added: ''This has come as a surprise to us and we can not forcibly
eject him from our camp against his will.''
It was the first time ever that MEND will report a hostage rejecting a freedom o
ffer.
Maguire has spent about nine months in captivity since he was 'rescued' by MEND
from pirates who abducted him,
another Briton and 19 others in September last year.
All the other hostages, including the other Briton - Robin Barry Hughes - have s
ince been freed.
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| Lagos - 02/06/2009 |
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