Nigerian rebels expand fighting

LAGOS: Nigerian rebels took their 'oil war' with the government into Lagos, killing at least five people in their first ever attack on Africa's biggest city on the eve of the release of their leader from jail.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) claimed the overnight attack on the main Atlas Cove oil depot Cove which reverberated across the city of 16 million people.

It came hours before one of MEND's top leaders, Henry Okah, was freed by a court which dropped treason charges against him. Okah told reporters he was happy to be free before being whisked away by officials to finalize release formalities.