PORT HARCOURT,Nigeria-Militants battled security forces in two areas of Nigeria oil-rich delta.

This was after armed men attacked a pumping station and an oil convoy,officials said,

A major militant group said they killed nine soldiers and captured two government gunboats at the pumping station belonging to Royal Dutch Shell PLC sbub-sidiary.

The army gave no casualty figures and it was not possible to confirm the militants' claim.

The convoy attacked in a separate incident was carrying soldiers and supplies for Agip,

a subsidiary of Italian oilcompany Eni SpA,Brig-Gen  Alfred Ilogho said.

The convoy was on itsway to an export terminal about 80km west of Port Harcourt,Ilogho said.

Eni spokesman Gianni di Gionanni said late on Wednesday that the company didn't have information about the attack.

He added that Agip oil convoys often are local contractors"Attacks are frequent,and so is their lack of success.We must wait,"Di Giovanni said