Nigerian militants holding four foreign hostages today said the four oil workers would not be released.
Government officials had yesterday raised hopes of a release soon after receiving a recent photograph of the hostages at a meeting with a person they believed was a credible go-between with the militants.
But the militants disassociated themselves from "bounty hunters" talking with the government on their behalf.
"There has been no negotiation, not to talk of a deal," the militants said.
The hostages were abducted from an offshore oilfield on January 11th by militants who have demanded the release of two ethnic Ijaw leaders.
The guerrillas have waged a month-long campaign of sabotage against pipelines and platforms in the world's eighth-largest oil exporter.