Nigerian rebels attack pipelines

Abuja, 17 March-(ANA)-Nigerian militants have attacked an oil pipeline in the oil-producing Niger Delta region.

The attack on Monday was the second in four days in Delta State - on Friday gunmen blew up a pipeline belonging to the American oil giant Chevron.

On Monday Chevron confirmed that the attack on its pipeline had caused them to stop pumping 11,500 barrels of oil.

Nigeria is Africa's largest producer of oil, but militants have cut production by around a fifth since 2006.

But militant attacks have not had the same influence on oil prices as they did when demand was higher in past years, analysts say.

It was not immediately clear which company operates the flow station attacked in Monday's raid.

"The facilities remain intact, there were no casualties to our troops," Lt Col Rade Abubakar, Delta State spokesman for the Joint Military Task Force told Reuters news agency. (ANA)

FA/ANA/17 March 2009---