The Custodian May 12, 2014 (BBC)
The governor of Nigeria's Borno
state says he has information on the whereabouts of about 200 schoolgirls
kidnapped by Islamist group Boko Haram.
Governor Kashim Shettima said he had
passed reports of the sightings of the girls to the military for verification.
Mr Shettima added that he did not
think the girls had been taken across the border to Chad or Cameroon.
Earlier, France's president offered
to host a summit on Boko Haram.
"I suggested, with Nigerian
President Goodluck Jonathan, a meeting of Nigeria's neighbouring
countries" Francois Hollande said.
"If the countries agree, it
should take place next Saturday" he added.
Countries neighbouring Nigeria, such
as Cameroon, Niger and Chad, would be invited to the security summit.
Aides said the US, UK and EU would
also be likely to attend.
The US, UK and France have already
pledged technical assistance to the Nigerian government.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan said
an Israeli counter-terrorism team would arrive in Nigeria to help in searching
for the schoolgirls, who were abducted last month.
'Slaves'
French troops entered Mali last year
to push out al-Qaeda affiliated militants.
Both the US and UK distanced
themselves from suggestions that they would send soldiers to take part in the
military operation in the vast north of Nigeria.
"There's no intention at this
point to be putting any American boots on the ground" said US Defence Secretary
Chuck Hagel on Sunday.
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said
it was unlikely Nigeria would ask for British troops to help, but he added:
"I said to President Jonathan where we can help, please ask, and we will
see what we can do."
"I rang the Nigerian president
to offer anything that would be helpful and we agreed to send out a team that
includes some counter-terrorism and intelligence experts to work alongside the
bigger American team that's going out there."
Mr Cameron later tweeted his support for a hashtag aimed at
raising awareness of the abductions.
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