Nigeria militants claim new attacks; Shell joint venture says production hit

Nigerian militants renewed attacks in the oil-rich south and a leading producer said pipeline sabotage could drastically affect exports _ news that helped push oil prices to record levels.

A Royal Dutch Shell PLC joint venture said Monday it may not be able to deliver some 169,000 barrels per day of crude in April and May because militants sabotaged a pipeline last week in southern Nigeria, where militancy and lawlessness has grown in recent years.

The unrest in Nigeria, the announcement by Shell and a missile attack on Japanese oil tanker off the east coast of Yemen sent oil prices spiking to a record US$117.40 a barrel Monday.

The Movement for …