In an open letter to US President George Bush, which was released to PANA through an e-mail, MEND also sought the mediation of former US President Jimmy Carter in resolving the crisis in the restive oil region.
``On Monday, April 21, 2008 at 0100 and 0310 Hrs commandos from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) in continuation of Operation Cyclone ( the crippling of the Nigerian oil export industry) attacked two major oil pipelines in Rivers state of Nigeria located at Isaka River and Abonnema River (close to Idama flow station). The pipelines may belong to Shell and Chevron,'' MEND said in the letter.
``Today's attack was prompted by the continuous injustice in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria where the root issues have not been addressed by the illegal and insincere government of Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan,'' it added.
The attacks have yet to be independently confirmed, but MEND rarely makes false claims.
The group said the second attack on oil pipelines in four days, after Friday's attack, was also aimed at protesting the continued detention and secret trial of its leader, Henry Okah; and the arrival in Nigeria of a US Warship, said to be `transiting the Gulf of Guinea'.
MEND said, in the letter, that the US Warship's arrival would not 'intimidate us'' and that Americans would soon feel the ripple effects of the group's attacks in the Niger Delta.
In calling for Mr. Carter's mediation, MEND said he ''is not in denial as the rest of you who brand freedom fighters as terrorists, forgetting their integral role in any sustainable peace process just as he has demonstrated in his meeting with Hamas''.
MEND previously wrote to President Bush and US actor George Clooney over the Niger Delta crisis, without getting any response.
Lagos - 21/04/2008
Panapress
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