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Boko Haram denies ceasefire claims

Abubakar Shekau said any suggestion that talks had taken place was a lie
Abubakar Shekau said any suggestion that talks had taken place was a lie

The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has denied claims by the Nigerian government that it has agreed to a ceasefire.

It has also denied that it plans to release more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped in the northeast of the country.

Speaking in a video released to the media, the group's leader Abubakar Shekau said any suggestion that talks had taken place was a lie.

He also insisted the girls had converted to Islam and had been married off since being captured and taken away.

They were kidnapped from their school in the remote northeastern town of Chibok, in Borno state, in April.

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said last month that an agreement to end hostilities had been reached following talks.

The Islamists offered a prisoner swap to release the girls in May, but the proposal was rejected by the government.