Militants 'blow up Nigeria pipe'

Abuja, 19 June-(ANA)-Militants in Nigeria's oil-producing region say they have blown up a major pipeline belonging to Italian energy firm Agip.

Agip has not yet commented on the claims but a local military spokesman said that details of the attack remained sketchy.

However, he denied the militants' claims to have disarmed seven soldiers.

Violence in the Niger Delta region has severely cut production in Nigeria - one of the world's main oil exporters.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) has rejected the government's offer of an amnesty. (ANA)

FA/ANA/19 June 2009---