Some 24 hostages of the Philippines sit as they are guarded by militants of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) at an undisclosed location on the creeks of Niger delta January 31, 2007. The Philippine government said on Tuesday it was concerned about the health of Filipino sailors kidnapped by militants in Nigeria following reports seven of the seafarers were critically ill. On Jan. 17, armed men seized the 24 workers from a German-operated cargo ship in the southern oil producing delta, taking 17 ashore to a village and demanding the Nigerian government free two separatist leaders from prison. [Reuters]

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