] TotalFinaElf (TOTF.PA) shut its oil production facilities
] in Nigeria's western delta and evacuated workers on
] Saturday because of spiraling violence that has left
] dozens of people dead, company officials said.
]
] A Reuters correspondent saw a helicopter land in the oil
] city of Warri, bringing the first group of workers
] fleeing tribal fighting in oilfields around the Escravos
] export terminal.
]
] The group was accompanied by armed soldiers.
]
] The officials said the helicopters were ferrying
] frightened workers from various TotalFinaElf facilities
] including the Opumami tank farm, the French oil firm's
] most important facility in the Obodo district where it
] produces 7,500 barrels per day of crude.
]
] But there was no immediate official confirmation to
] reports that militants had set fire to part of the tank
] farm.