LAGOS July 14 (AFP) - Six days after a group of Nigerian women invaded a
major oil terminal and barricaded hundreds of staff inside, the firm said
Sunday there had been no breakthrough in talks to end the stand-off.
   "The talks are still continuing, and that's someting," Chevron spokesman
Wole Agunbiade said, adding that discussions would continue through
Sunday but that he had no progress to report.
   More than 700 workers, including American, British and other expatriate
staff, have been trapped since Monday in the terminal, which lies on an
island in coastal swampland east of Lagos.
   The women, who are unarmed, have demanded jobs for their sons and
investment in the impoverished Ugborodo and Arutan communities which lie
in the shadow of the plant.
   Chevron Nigeria, a subsidiary of US oil giant Chevron Texaco, normally
exports 450,000 barrels of crude a day through Escravos.
   Talks between Chevron executives and local community representatives
have been going on in Ugborodo village hall since last week, without much
success.
   The women stormed the export terminal on Monday after seizing a boat
bringing casual workers to the facility. They have blockaded the docks,
landing strip and office facilities.
   No aircraft or boats have been able to leave or arrive at the terminal since
the siege began, apart from those bringing negotiators to the site.
   Some Nigerian police and soldiers are at the site, but Chevron has vowed
to resolve the situation peacefully.

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