MIAMI — Farmers rushed to protect citrus and other crops yesterday as Florida braced for plunging temperatures, with the governor even lifting certain agricultural regulations as a precaution.

Temperatures were expected to drop below freezing in much of the state last night, hitting the lower to mid-20s for a few hours in many areas. Wind chill factors were expected to dive into the teens tonight and tomorrow morning.

Gov. Charlie Crist issued an order late Monday relaxing restrictions in getting harvested crops moved to processing centers.

"If it only stays below freezing for four to six hours, we're OK, but after about six hours it starts to do its damage. If it freezes the oranges, obviously they're no good," Florida agriculture spokeswoman Liz Compton said.

The early harvest of citrus starts in November and December, Compton said. But beans, corn, cucumbers and eggplant also are being harvested and could be affected, Compton said.

NIGERIA OIL TOWN ATTACKED; 13 DEAD

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria — Armed militants attacked targets in Nigeria's main oil industry center of Port Harcourt yesterday, killing 13 people, a military spokesman said.

Bands of armed men invaded the city in the morning, attacking two police stations and raiding the lobby of a major hotel. Four police officers, three civilians and six attackers were killed, said Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, spokesman for the military task force in charge of security in Nigeria's troubled oil region.

Nigeria is Africa's leading oil producer and the fifth-biggest source of oil to the United States.

The attacks have cut the country's oil exports of 2.5 million daily by more than 20 percent in the past two years, and have added to the upward pressure on global oil prices.

FLIERS SUE OVER 9-HOUR DELAY

Two passengers who were kept aboard American Airlines jets on the ground for more than nine hours in 2006 have sued the airline, saying they deserve compensation for being imprisoned against their will.

The plaintiffs, Kathleen Hanni of Napa, Calif., and Catherine Ray of Fayetteville, Ark., want courts to certify the cases as class actions covering thousands of passengers stranded on American flights when severe weather temporarily shut Dallas/Fort Worth airport on Dec. 29, 2006, forcing flights to go to other airports.

Both women's flights were diverted to Austin. The complaints allege passengers suffered hunger, thirst, illness, emotional distress and financial losses when American failed to supply the planes with food or water, empty the toilets or let passengers off.

American spokesman John Hotard would not comment on the complaints. He noted that since December 2006, American has implemented new procedures designed to prevent recurrences. Those include a guideline limiting ground delays to four hours when possible and letting passengers deplane when it is safe to do so.

NEW YORK FERRIES GET NEW OPERATOR

NEW YORK — New Year's Day brought a new operator for the ferries that shuttle sightseers to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Statue Cruises LLC won the lucrative ferry service contract to the islands in New York Harbor after promising to reduce wait times and offer such amenities as multimedia presentations and organic food. They also say their ferries will be equipped with engines that consume less gas and produce less exhaust.

The National Park Service, which operates the two monuments, in June chose Statue Cruises to succeed Circle Line, which has run the ferry service for more than half a century. Statue Cruises is owned by California-based Hornblower Yachts Inc., which also operates tourist boats to San Francisco's Alcatraz Island.

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.