UPDATE 3-Nigerian rebels say they attacked Shell pipeline

* Militants say sabotage another oil pipeline in delta
* Shell shuts one of its pipeline junction points
* Damaged pipeline feeds crude to Bonny export terminal
By Randy Fabi
ABUJA, June 25 (Reuters) - Nigeria's main militant group said its fighters sabotaged a Royal Dutch Shell oil pipeline in the southern Niger Delta on Thursday, the latest in a string of attacks against Africa's biggest energy producer. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in an e-mailed statement it had attacked the Billie/Krakama pipeline in Rivers state in the Niger Delta.
Attacks from MEND have forced foreign oil companies, including U.S. oil major Chevron and Italy's Agip, to shut at least 133,000 barrels per day of oil production in the past month.
MEND said the damaged pipeline it attacked on Thursday fed into pumping stations connected to the Bonny crude oil terminal, one of Nigeria's main export terminals.
A Shell spokeswoman said the company had shut down one of its pipeline junction points, but declined to say whether any oil production was affected.
"The facility has been shut down and an emergency team has been mobilised to limit the environmental impact," she said.
The latest attack in the world's eighth largest crude oil exporter helped push oil prices up near $69 on Thursday.
On Sunday, MEND claimed responsibility for attacks on three Shell installations, including the Afremo offshore oilfields.
Shell said it was investigating those attacks and was carrying out aerial inspections to try to assess any impact on output or the extent of any environmental damage from potential spillage.
Industry and security experts say it is virtually impossible to prevent opportunistic attacks on hundreds of kilometres of pipeline and equipment in the remote mangrove creeks of the Niger Delta, one of the world's biggest wetlands.
The military last month launched its biggest offensive against Niger Delta gunmen in years, bombarding rebel camps from the air and sea and sending three battalions of troops to hunt them down.

But security forces have toned down their campaign in recent days ahead of a federal amnesty programme that is expected to be unveiled later on Thursday.
President Umaru Yar'Adua will offer clemency to militants over a 60-day period, starting on Aug. 6, if they agree to lay down their weapons, a senior official said.
The government estimates as many as 20,000 militants could participate in the programme, but sceptics question whether an amnesty alone will be enough to halt widespread oil theft, pipeline bombings and kidnappings for ransom.
One militant leader, Ateke Tom, has indicated he would consider taking part in the amnesty programme if the military halts its offensive and withdraws its troops from the region, one of his lawyers said this month.
But MEND has criticised government efforts to provide an amnesty to gunmen, saying it has not been involved in any of the negotiations. (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Randy Fabi)