Nigeria militants deny Shell pipeline attack

[February 01, 2010]  LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) -- The main militant group in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta says they were not involved in the rupture of an important Royal Dutch Shell PLC pipeline.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta issued a statement early Monday saying they did not attack the Trans-Ramos pipeline run by Shell's Nigerian subsidiary. The group said Saturday they would resume attacks against oil installations in the Delta, abandoning an Oct. 25 cease-fire agreement with the government.

Shell said the ruptured pipeline was sabotaged Saturday in Bayelsa State. The company shut down three flow stations after the pipeline ruptured, though crude oil did escape. The company gave no timeline for fixing the pipe and restarting the flow of oil.

[Associated Press]

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