Incoming UN chief names three women to top posts

Yahoo – AFP, December 15, 2016

Nigerian Minister of the Environment Amina Mohammed, seen in 2015,
will be the UN's number two official (AFP Photo/Mireya ACIERTO)

United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Incoming UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday announced his choice of Nigeria's Environment Minister Amina Mohammed to be the UN's number two official and tabbed two other women for key leadership posts.

Guterres has made achieving gender parity at the world body a priority of his tenure, which begins January 1. Women currently fill less than one in four leadership positions at the United Nations.

A senior Brazilian foreign ministry official, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, will serve as Guterres's chief of staff, while Kyung-wha Kang of South Korea was appointed to the new position of special adviser on policy.

Amina Mohammed was widely tipped to become UN deputy secretary-general after she led successful negotiations on the sustainable development goals - 17 targets agreed by the United Nations to end extreme poverty by 2030.

The 55-year-old Mohammed will succeed Jan Eliasson of Sweden.

Viotti, who is Brazil's undersecretary for Asia and the Pacific, also served as ambassador to Germany and as UN envoy.

The 62-year-old economist helped shape Brazil's role within the BRICS club of emerging economies and worked as director for human rights in the foreign ministry.

Kang, 61, is currently head of Guterres's transition team and has served as deputy UN aid chief since April 2013.

Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal who led the UN refugee agency for 10 years, won election as UN chief despite calls from civil society and some member-states for a woman to be chosen for the first time in the organization's 71-year history.

He said after taking the oath of office on Monday that "gender parity is a must" and "will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN."

Guterres will succeed former South Korean foreign minister Ban Ki-moon, who led the UN through two five-year terms.

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Ine Eriksen Søreide (Norway), Karin Enström (Sweden), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert

(Netherlands) and Ursula von der Leyen (Germany). Photograph: Twitter

"Listening to the Voice of Spirit" (2) - Feb 20, 2016 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (DNA Efficiency is on average at 35 percent now) - (Text version)

“… With free choice, the percentage of DNA efficiently started to go down as humanity grew. As soon as the DNA started to lose percentage, the gender balance was dysfunctional. If you want to have a test of any society, anywhere on the planet, and you want to know the DNA percentage number [consciousness quota] as a society, there's an easy test: How do they perceive and treat their women? The higher the DNA functionality, the more the feminine divine is honored. This is the test! Different cultures create different DNA consciousness, even at the same time on the planet. So you can have a culture on Earth at 25 percent and one at 37 - and if you did, they would indeed clash. …”

“… You're at 35. There's an equality here, you're starting to see the dark and light, and it's changing everything. You take a look at history and you've come a long way, but it took a long time to get here. Dear ones, we've seen this process before and the snowball is rolling. There isn't anything in the way that's going to stop it. In the path of this snowball of higher consciousness are all kinds of things that will be run over and perish. Part of this is what you call "the establishment". Watch for some very big established things to fall over! The snowball will simply knock them down. …”

"The Energy of the Future" (2) - Dec 7, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version)

“..  The New 'Message' from Space

Let me tell you what the message is that is being communicated: Unlock to 44 percent! This is the message: The Human race has passed the marker and is ready for the next step in evolution. I am talking about the old soul. You are the ones who will be first to get this message. It is you, and some of your "old soul" children, who are starting to feel and accept this!

Let me tell you in this lesson today that the first thing that this unlocking will begin to create is what we're going to call Akashic acuity. You're going to start remembering, and it's about time. Can you celebrate this? It's about time that when you're born you don't start from scratch, in the dark, and doing everything all over again. Instead, you remember!

I want to talk to some individuals who are listening to this and are in this room. Have your grandchildren had the audacity to tell you who they used to be? Don't raise your hand; I know you're here. They feel it, and they know it, and out of the mouths of these babes come the most profound information that this planet has ever heard! They knew who they were! Some will point their fingers at you and say, “Don't you remember? I was your mum in another life.” That's a bit disconcerting, isn't it?  …”

"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems  (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it),  Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse),  Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“… "Wow, Kryon, how long is that going to take?"

The Humans in the room control that and those listening later and reading. When you leave this room, what are you going to do? Go home, report this, rub your hands together, and wait for it to happen? It won't. For the Humans in the room and the old souls hearing and reading have got work to do, and I've told you this before. You've got work to do.

There's an alliance that you're going to have to create with one another and with another group - the young people of Earth. The youth of this earth are changing the way things work. Can you see it? You're not supposed to sit around and watch them either, because they need you, old soul.

It's time for you to align with the indigos and the concepts of the youth of the planet. Do not think for a moment that their age shows their wisdom. These two attributes are not commensurate with one another; they're not linear. These young people may be older souls than you are! Don't think that because they've got technology that you don't understand that you can't be one with them. Their technology is social networking, the very thing we are talking about, where everyone can talk to everyone. The new consciousness on the planet starts in two areas - the children and the old souls.

Conclusion

This is the message of the day. The recalibration of awareness is going to change systems, education, government and finance. Those who don't choose to be spiritual at all will still move with a new awareness, for they will be aware of something that they are not aware of now - a softer way of living.

We close with a trite statement that we've given before, but that many have stated in jest: "If women ran the world, they would never send their sons to be killed on a battlefield."

Many laugh. How trite, how simple minded. Indeed, there have been women leaders who have put wars together; they had to. They sent their sons, so that's not really a correct statement. However, it's more right than you may think, dear ones.

So now I will make the statement I have made over and over in these recalibrated channellings: "When recalibrated Humans run the world, there will come a day when they will never send their sons into the battlefield." You see, awareness will change all of that. They will eventually see the wisdom of unification, new ways to settle issues, and the intuitive attribute of putting things together instead of tearing them apart.

There will be a time when government armies will not need to be large, and weapons will not be as powerful. Slowly, government won't need them. Slowly, slower than you want, these things will happen as the old soul carries his light and looks at the masters of the planet and emulates them.

You've all heard it: There will come a time when the masters will come back to Earth, and there are many who are waiting for this. However, it has already happened! They couldn't come back until the alignment was right and now it is right. This is what you are feeling in 2012 and beyond. It's starting to happen, and they're back. But they're not back as corporeal Human Beings. They're back as the energy of recalibrating of the awareness of God.

I wouldn't say these things unless they were true. Watch for these things, dear ones. Remember where you heard them first and when some of them start to occur in your news. And when you see the earth working in this fashion, dear one, maybe you'll realize that what I have given today is real.

Be circumspect. There is no perfect timing. Humans will create all this at their own pace. Do not be in fear of the things that might follow, for I say it yet again that the old energy will show itself soon in survival mode and it won't be pretty.

In this beginning of new energy, stand tall and turn on your light. Darkness will shirk before you. That is the truth of the day.

I am Kryon, in love with humanity.

And so it is.

KRYON.

Obama praises Nigeria's president for conceding defeat

Yahoo – AFP, 1 April 2015

A man reads the Sun Daily newspaper with headlines announcing the victory

 of the main opposition All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, in 

Lagos, on April 1, 2015 (AFP Photo/Pius Utomi Ekpei)

Washington (AFP) - US President Barack Obama praised Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday for conceding defeat in an election that he said showed "Nigeria's commitment to democratic principles."

"President Jonathan has placed his country's interests first by conceding the election and congratulating president-elect (Muhammadu) Buhari on his victory," Obama said in a White House statement.

Buhari won the election by 2.57 million votes official results showed Wednesday, defeating incumbent Jonathan in a close fought race.

US President Barack Obama praised 

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan on 

Wednesday for conceding defeat in an 

election (AFP Photo/Jim Watson)

"I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term, and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture," Obama said.

With dissatisfaction rife over insecurity and corruption and the economy faltering as oil revenues dive, voters turned out in force sensing an unprecedented opportunity for change in the weekend election.

"The last few days have shown the world the strength of Nigeria's commitment to democratic principles," Obama said.

"By turning out in large numbers and sometimes waiting all day to cast their votes, Nigerians came together to decide the future of their country peacefully."

After an often bitter campaign that included highly charged rhetoric on both sides, Buhari said he planned to meet with Jonathan soon to plan the transition.

"I urge president-elect Buhari and President Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the election outcomes, focus on unifying the country, and together lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition," Obama said.

Buhari, a 72-year-old former army general who led Nigeria as a military ruler in the 1980s, said the vote had proved the country's "belief in democracy."

Obama also praised Nigeria's Independent National Election Commission (INEC) and its chairman, which he said "deserve special recognition for what independent international observers have deemed a largely peaceful and orderly vote."

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Thousands see off Chadian troops to fight Boko Haram

Yahoo – AFP, Martin Zoutane, 17 Jan 2015

Chad's Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet (C) leads a rally in N'Djamena

 on January 17, 2015, showing support for a decision to send troops to fight 

Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists (AFP Photo)

N'Djamena (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people joined a march in N'Djamena on Saturday in support of Chadian troops heading to Nigeria and Cameroon to fight the Islamist group Boko Haram.

Marching some five kilometres (three miles) through Chad's capital, demonstrators waved the national flag and chanted in French and Arabic: "Kick the forces of evil out of our territory."

Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet said the march sent "a strong signal, a warning to Boko Haram".

The event came as a huge convoy set off from N'Djamena to combat the Islamists sowing terror in northeastern Nigeria and northern Cameroon.

Thousands of people hailed the arrival of some 400 vehicles in the Cameroonian border town of Kousseri, an AFP journalist reported.

Early this month Boko Haram launched a full-scale assault on the strategic town of Baga on the banks of Lake Chad, which straddles the borders of Chad, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.

Chad is part of a regional force against Boko Haram that was based in Baga -- but both Chad and Niger had withdrawn their troops before the January 3 attack.

Chadian President Idriss Deby said in a speech read by the speaker of parliament that the new deployment aimed to recapture Baga.

But Nigeria expressed lukewarm support fot the Chad mission on Saturday.

"All support for our operations will be welcome, but it must conform with our own ongoing operations," Nigerian army spokesman Chris Olukolade told AFP.

The Cameroon government said on Monday that its army killed 143 Boko Haram fighters who had attacked a military base in the northern town of Kolofata.

People take part in a rally in N'Djamena on January 17, 2015 to show their

 support for a decision to send troops to fight Nigeria's Boko Haram Islamists 

(AFP Photo)

This week French President Francois Hollande and US Secretary of State John Kerry accused Boko Haram of committing crimes against humanity, while a top UN official, Leila Zerrougui, called for a regional response to the crisis.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who heads the regional Economic Community of West African States, called Friday for a "specific plan of action to end the problem of terrorism" in Africa.

Satellite pictures released by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch last week showed around 3,700 buildings in Baga and nearby Doron Baga damaged or destroyed.

Daniel Eyre, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International, said as many as 2,000 civilians may have been massacred, but Nigeria's army objected to the "sensational" claims and said that the death toll in Baga was about 150.

Brutal raids, massacres, suicide bomb attacks and kidnappings by Boko Haram have claimed at least 13,000 lives and driven an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes, mainly in northeastern Nigeria.

File image shows Chadian soldierson a pickup truck in the capital of the

Central African Republic Bangui on April 4, 2014 (AFP Photo/Miguel Medina)

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Pope condemns 'Islamic State' in Christmas Day message

In his annual Christmas "urbi et orbi" message, Pope Francis has condemned this year's "brutal" religious persecution in the Middle East. He also urged for peace in Nigeria, Ukraine and other troubled regions.

Deutsche Welle, 25 Dec 2014

Speaking at midday local time (1100 UTC) from the central balcony of the Vatican Basilica on Thursday, the 78-year-old pontiff addressed the Catholic congregation around the world as well as the tens of thousands who had gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"Christmas should bring a message of salvation to a world marred by conflict and suffering," Pope Francis said Thursday as he called for an end to violence against "vast numbers of children."

Reflecting on last week's deadly attack on a Pakistani school in Peshawar, the Pope said: "Truly there are so many tears this Christmas."

"May the power of Christ, which brings freedom and service, be felt in so many hearts afflicted by war, persecution and slavery [and] take away the hardness of heart of so many men and women immersed in worldliness and indifference," he added.

'Brutal persecution'

In his message the Pope also deplored child abuse and the practice of abortion. He called for an end to conflicts in African countries, and appealed for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

His toughest words, however, were reserved to defend victims of "Islamic State" (IS) fighters who have been killed or displaced for failing to share the group's ideology.

"I ask him, the Saviour of the world, to look upon our brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria, who for too long now have suffered the effects of ongoing conflict, and who, together with those belonging to other ethnic and religious groups, are suffering a brutal persecution," Pope Francis said.

"May Christmas bring them hope, as indeed also to the many displaced persons, exiles and refugees, children, adults and elderly, from this region and from the whole world," he added.

'Tenderness'

Prior to delivering his Christmas Day message, the pontiff also posted on Twitter:

With Jesus there is true joy.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 25, 2014

On Christmas Eve, the pope celebrated a 90-minute mass in St Peter's Basilica.. In his homily, he said "tenderness" was needed to heal the world.

ksb/es (Reuters, AFP, dpa)

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"Revelations of Darkness" - Oct 1, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Text version)

“ .. Do Not Despair

There's too much information to give you in one channelling, in one sitting, so I refer to past messages for you to better understand and reference the information in order to get the bigger picture. So I wish to remind you of something I also told you in a recent channelling called Do Not Despair. You're winning! It's because you're winning that the dark consciousness on this planet is feeling it, and the humanity that represents darkness is pulling out everything it has to survive.

It Has Always Been There

Let's look at it, because it's all over the news. Are you shocked at the sudden existence of the organization that will remain unnamed [for this channelling]? Where did it come from? How could it be so organized? How could it be so well funded? This organization could have its own country soon! They might as well name it, “The Old Energy Dark Country”, for that's what it will represent.

The barbaric past of humanity comes forward to show its face. It has always been there, hiding under the rocks and between the cracks of civilized humanity. It couldn't show itself until now, but now it has to. It's ugly and it's not for the faint at heart, is it, dear ones? Seeing evil personified in Human action is abhorrent. It is so ugly and so dark that you cannot look upon it with a gentle heart. God is not a part of it and this is obvious.

You're winning! Light is winning! The uprising of dark consciousness would not have shown itself with this strength, or this quickly, if this were not so. This is exactly what I told you to look for, and it is proof that those representing this dark consciousness are in trouble. Dear ones, dark consciousness has always had a tried-and-true system. It lurks in the shadows and influences all the power places of the planet - government, commerce, finance. Suddenly, it can't hide there as well anymore and it's out in the open.

Where is the funding coming from? It is coming from a storehouse that has always been there, dear ones. It uses income that has been generated from low consciousness acts, collected for a very long time. Funding didn't just appear. It has been stored, waiting to be used in order to spread fear and darkness to save what they believe is their way.

Who Will Win?

Dear ones, they haven't got a chance! But it looks like they do, doesn't it? Everything that they are doing is calculated to scare you into submission. Are they winning? Now, that's a question I want you to take from here and examine every day.

Fear is black. If you're in fear, there is no light. You can be the grandest Lightworker, or even be the channeller, but if you're in fear, it doesn't matter how many years you've done light work, or how much light you've accumulated personally. It all goes away with fear, and then they've won the battle for your mind. Do you understand this?

The Strength of the Old Soul - YOU

Old souls, Lightworkers reading this, the experiences you have had over lifetimes and lifetimes are incredible! The old soul knows fear. I don't want to be too graphic, but I want you to understand! What was it like when you put your head in the guillotine because you talked about God in a way that was inappropriate? What was it like to be bound hand and foot when they lit the match at your feet? Old soul, that's fear! You carry those experiences in your Akash.

I want to tell you they haven't got a chance to scare you! You absolutely know what fear is, and they haven't got a chance as long as you cling to that part of you that is the strength of God. You've been through it all. That means you've got the weapons of truth, wisdom and light. Don't forget it. Don't forget who you are!

Do you see how fast they assembled? It seemed like only yesterday that there was no organization at all. Where did they come from? Have you noticed a certain hesitancy to fight them? Why is it that the citizens of the lands that they are invading are hesitant to fight them? Instead, these leaders are calling on others to help. Why is it that the others are also hesitant? I want to show you that there are some anomalies of logic that are not making sense, because this is a battle you have never seen before on this planet. We've expected it, but you haven't. It's about consciousness, not land or resources.

How to Win?

We gave you the secret before of how to defeat them without taking even one life: Simply take away their funding. They cannot exist without their funding. The funding has to be organized, stored, and distributed. It has to be generated in such a way that it must also go through institutions. Did you hear that? All you have to do is stop the system. Winning won't be done with bombing. It's going to be done with intelligence, clever thinking and financial forensics. It's time to get smart on some of these things and not to be afraid to look at this puzzle differently than you have before. Do not apply the energy they are using in order to fight them, because you won't win. Figure it out. It's the last bastion of organized darkness and evil thinking on this planet coming together to try to survive the assault of your light. Don't be afraid to look at the funding trail, no matter where it takes you.

Fear is Their Weapon

I want you to know something as you look at your news. It may appear that you are unable to stop them. In many places, they will gain strength as they create fear. The fear is easily created in those who are not old souls and who don't know fear like you do and who don't have the armor of your spiritual experiences. This puts you in the front line, dear one. Did you realize that? But you don't have to go fight them on their terms. All you have to do is broadcast light. High consciousness will beat fear any day.. .”

US deploys surveillance plane to assist in search for missing Nigeria girls

Deutsche Welle, 13 May 2014

A US reconnaissance plane has been deployed as part of multinational search efforts for 200 Nigerian schoolgirls. Nigeria has rejected an offer by Boko Haram to return the girls in a prisoner exchange.

More international personnel were expected to arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday to aid the massive search for the schoolgirls abducted by the Islamist group Boko Haram. So far, Britain, France and the US have deployed experts to the area. In its latest effort, Washington also confirmed that it had launched a search from the air.

"We have shared commercial satellite imagery with the Nigerians and are flying manned ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) assets over Nigeria, with the government's permission," a US official said late Monday.

They were also in the process of analyzing a video released by Boko Haram (pictured), which shows some 130 girls wearing gray veils and chanting verses from the Koran against the backdrop of a forest. With the girls' whereabouts previously unknown, the footage could provide vital clues as to their location.

"We have no reason to question its authenticity," US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

"Our intelligence experts are combing through every detail of the video for clues that might help ongoing efforts to secure the release of these girls," she added.

Multinational effort

A 30-strong team from the US arrived last week in Nigeria, to help in the search for the girls, who are aged between 16 and 18. Almost 200 girls were snatched from their boarding school in the northeast of the country on April 14. The act sparked public outrage, including a prominent Twitter campaign, with France subsequently offering to host a summit to discuss the Boko Haram threat.

Britain and France have also deployed experts to Nigeria, with London saying its aim, in addition to finding the girls, was to assist in the defeat of the Boko Haram network as a whole. China, Israel and Spain have all offered help of their own.

The Nigerian government on Monday said it would not agree to a deal proposed by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in the video, offering the girls' safe return only in exchange for captured fighters.

Boko Haram's violent campaign to impose a strict brand of Shariah law on Nigeria has killed more than 1,500 people this year alone. Thousands more have died since the group's campaign of violence erupted in 2009.

kms/mkg (AFP, Reuters, dpa)

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UN rights chief slams Nigeria ban on gay marriage

Google – AFP, 14 March 2014

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay gives a press conference on

December 2, 2013 at the United Nations offices in Geneva (AFP/File, Fabrice Coffrini)

Abuja — The UN rights chief, Navi Pillay, Thursday said Nigeria's recent ban on same-sex marriage violated human rights and the nation's constitution.

"I'm concerned with the implication of the recently-passed Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act," Pillay said during a meeting with Nigeria's justice minister as part of her three-day official visit to Africa's most populous nation.

"In addition to the violation of fundamental human rights enshrined in the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), it is a violation also of the African Charter and the Nigerian constitution itself," she said.

Nigeria has been under fire internationally for banning gay marriage and alleged abuses while tackling Islamist insurgents in the north of the country.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in January approved a bill banning gay marriage and same-sex partnerships that sparked international condemnation.

Under the terms of the law -- criticised by the EU, US and Amnesty International among others -- anyone who enters into a same-sex marriage or civil union can be sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"It (the law) may have negative consequences for public health in Nigeria," the UN chief said.

"It may deter LGBT persons from taking up HIV education, prevention treatment and care services and also hinder the ability of government as well as civil society and religious groups from implementing such services.

She called on authorities to observe a "moratorium on prosecution".

The anti-gay law follows similar legislation in Uganda that was condemned by US President Barack Obama as "odious" and compared to apartheid by South African peace icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Pillay, who ends her visit to Nigeria on Friday, also expressed her concern about "the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of human rights violations" in the country and urged authorities "to investigate and prosecute allegations of human rights violation".

She alleged that crimes committed by Boko Haram Islamists and security forces battling insurgents have "horrendous impact" on civilians.

Rights bodies and other groups have often accused security forces of human rights violations in their campaign to battle the insurgency which has claimed thousands of lives since 2009.

She said she would encourage Nigeria to take concrete steps to abolishing the death penalty by reducing the number of crimes punishable by it.

In response, Justice Minister Mohammed Bello Adoke said "the focus of the (anti-gay) Act is therefore discouragement of same-sex marriage which is a reflection of the overwhelming beliefs and cultural values of the Nigerian people".

He claimed that a 2013 opinion poll showed that 92 percent of Nigerians rejected same-sex marriage.

He added that the constitution did not approve extra-judicial killing and "has zero tolerance for any form of cruelty or inhuman treatment".

"While there have reports of extra-judicial killings, let me assure you that security officers that have been found culpable, irrespective of their position, are made to face the full weight of the law," he said.

Her visit is the first by UN human rights chief to Nigeria.

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Nigeria detains 12 in Halliburton bribery case

Reuters, LAGOS | Sat Nov 27, 2010 3:58pm EST

(Reuters) - Nigeria's anti-corruption police have raided the offices of the U.S. oilfield services group Halliburton and arrested 12 people in a bribery case involving the former Halliburton unit KBR Inc, a spokesman said on Saturday.

The U.S. firm said the detentions, carried out on Thursday, had no legal basis and that its employees had since been freed.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it had detained 10 Halliburton staff for questioning and one senior employee each from oil services firms Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd and Technip Offshore Nigeria Ltd.

Eni, Saipem's parent company, declined to comment.

"We are still looking for the (local) managing director of Halliburton," EFCC spokesman Femi Babafemi said.

Those detained in the raid, carried out with the assistance of armed police, included Giuseppe Surace, believed to be Saipem's country manager, and Frank Pliya from Technip, as well as a mixture of expatriates and Nigerians, Babafemi said.

Halliburton said in a statement that its employees were not connected with the case, and that they had all subsequently been released.

"Nigerian authorities entered the offices of Halliburton in Lagos, ransacked the property, assaulted personnel and took a number of non-managerial employees into custody ... this action had no legal basis," its statement said.

Houston-based engineering firm KBR pleaded guilty last year to U.S. charges that it paid $180 million in bribes between 1994 and 2004 to Nigerian officials to secure $6 billion in contracts for the Bonny Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.

KBR and Halliburton reached a $579 million settlement in the United States but Nigeria, France and Switzerland have conducted their own investigations into the case.

KBR split from Halliburton in 2007.

"The Halliburton oil field services operations in Nigeria have never in any way been any part of the LNG project, and none of the Halliburton employees have ever had any connection to or participation in that project," Halliburton said.

A former aide to Nigerian ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo pleaded not guilty in October to six counts of money laundering in relation to the case between 2002-2003, including accepting $1.5 million in bribes.

His case was adjourned to December 16.

(Reporting by Nick Tattersall and Anna Driver; editing by Kevin Liffey)

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Christmas bombing suspect on U.S. bound flight pleads not guilty

www.chinaview.cn 2010-01-09 04:02:00

• The Nigerian attempted bomber in a U.S. int'l flight pleaded not guilty at a court in Detroit Friday.
• He confirmed his name, age and read the indictment against him, but remained mute to the charges.
• He admitted that he received the explosive device and training from al-Qaida's branch in Yemen.
  
  

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A Nigerian man who was accused of attempting to blow up a U.S. international flight with an explosive device pleaded not guilty at a court in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday.

During the detention hearing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab's lawyers pleaded not guilty on behalf of him.

According to local media, the 23-year-old man confirmed his name, age and that he had read the indictment against him, but remained mute to the charges.

Arab-Americans hold signs saying 'Islam Is Against Terrorisim' as they demonstrate outside the Federal court building in Detroit, Michigan Jan. 8, 2010, during a hearing for Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 23-year old Nigerian accused of attempting to blow up a Detroit bound jetliner. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Photo Gallery>>>

The suspect shocked the United States by bringing the explosive to a Delta/Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to Detroit and trying to set it off on Christmas Day.

He has been accused of six accounts including attempted murder and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

This courtroom drawing shows accused Christmas Day Bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (L) with his defense attorney Miriam Siefer in Federal court in Detroit, Michigan. Jan. 8, 2010. A federal judge on Friday entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Abdulmutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian accused of an attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound jetliner that has prompted a sweeping review of U.S. security procedures. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

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Other counts include willfully attempting to destroy and wreck an aircraft within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, willing fully placing a destructive device in, upon and in proximity to an aircraft within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, and possessing firearm/destructive in furtherance of a crime of violence.

During the investigation, the suspect admitted that he received the explosive device and training from al-Qaida's branch in Yemen, which has also claimed responsibility for the plot.

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