This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/8422165.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Nigeria rebels in oil pipe attack Nigeria militants in oil attack
(41 minutes later)
Rebels in the Niger delta of Nigeria say they have attacked an oil pipeline overnight, putting a two-month truce with the government in doubt. Armed men in the Niger delta of Nigeria say they have attacked an oil pipeline overnight, putting a two-month truce with the government in doubt.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said it had attacked a pipeline owned by Shell and Chevron. A faction of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta said it attacked the pipeline.
A rebel spokesman said it was because the government was delaying peace talks due to the absence of ill President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is in Saudi Arabia. A spokesman said it was because the government was delaying peace talks due to the absence of ill President Umaru Yar'Adua, who is in Saudi Arabia.
Rebel attacks cost Nigeria about $1bn (£600,000) in lost revenue monthly. Attacks have cost Nigeria millions in lost revenue over the years.
Mend said, in an e-mailed statement, that the "warning strike" was carried out by 35 men on five boats with assault rifles, rocket launchers and heavy-calibre machine guns. The faction said, in an e-mailed statement, that the "warning strike" was carried out by 35 men on five boats with assault rifles, rocket launchers and heavy-calibre machine guns.
It said the pipeline was in Abonemma, about 50km (30 miles) west of Port Harcourt.It said the pipeline was in Abonemma, about 50km (30 miles) west of Port Harcourt.
Peace talks were suspended when President Yar'Adua was hospitalised in late November in Saudi Arabia.Peace talks were suspended when President Yar'Adua was hospitalised in late November in Saudi Arabia.
Mend said it would review the ceasefire within 30 days.Mend said it would review the ceasefire within 30 days.
"While the Nigerian government has conveniently tied the advancement of talks on the demands of this group to a sick president, it has not tied the repair of pipelines, exploitation of oil and gas as well as the deployment and re-tooling of troops in the region to the president's ill health," it said."While the Nigerian government has conveniently tied the advancement of talks on the demands of this group to a sick president, it has not tied the repair of pipelines, exploitation of oil and gas as well as the deployment and re-tooling of troops in the region to the president's ill health," it said.