The Movement for Emancipation for Niger Delta (MEND) on Saturday denied any contact or negotiations with Nigeria's southern Bayelsa government or Italian oil company Agip for the release of the hostages they took.

In an email to Xinhua, the MEND said that "there have been no meetings whatsoever with the Bayelsa government, Agip or any other parties towards the release of the hostages."

"As earlier stated, the hostages will only be exchanged. There will be no negotiations," it added.

According to the email, all four hostages have been relocated and will not be permitted to communicate with the outside world until their eventual release.

In earlier emails to the media, the group had said the hostages would not be released until Nigerian authorities free Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, a militant leader currently on trial for treason, and Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, former governor of southern Bayelsa State, on trial for money- laundering.

On Dec. 7, the MEND took three Italian and one Lebanese oil workers as hostages who are still in captive of the armed group.

The MEND detonated two car bombs in oil company compounds of Agip and Shell in oil city Port Harcourt, which damaged four cars but caused no casualties.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2006)