Nigeria, Cameroon Begin talks over Oil-Rich Region

Nigeria and Cameroon have began crucial talks expected to end in the handover of the Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon in a few weeks’ time. Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua held court with Cameroonian officials in Abuja Tuesday, while Vice President Goodluck Jonathan met with various committees set up to handle citizenship issues concerning the natives of the oil-rich peninsula. Nigeria is expected to hand the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on August 14 as per a 2002 ruling by the UN’s International Court of Justice(ICJ).[PE]