Nigeria's militant youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta on Saturday evening warned the Chinese government and its oil companies to steer well clear of the Niger Delta.

The militants said on Saturday they had detonated a car bomb near an oil refinery in the city of Warri in the southern oil-producing Niger Delta.

No information was immediately available on whether there were any casualties or damage. Delta state officials said there had been a blast but had no further details. The militants have provided accurate statements in the past.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), whose attacks have cut Nigerian oil exports by a quarter, said the bombing was a warning to all people working in the oil industry and particularly to China.

Earlier this week, Chinese President Hu Jintao signed oil deals with Nigeria during a state visit.

Nigeria gave China four oil exploration licences in return for a commitment to invest $4 billion in refining and power generation. High world oil prices have stoked fierce competition between Asia and the West over access to new reserves.

Attacks and Kidnappings

MEND, which says it has waged a campaign of attacks and kidnappings because the Nigerian government has neglected the delta's dominant Ijaw tribe, said it used a mobile phone to detonate 30 kg (66 lb) of dynamite in the bombing.

"Our operatives in Delta state in the Niger Delta planted and detonated one car bomb amidst petroleum product bridging tankers located close to the refinery in Warri," it said.

MEND says impoverished villages in remote creeks have no electricity, clean water or health services but have to play host to a multi-billion dollar industry that damages the environment.

The Ijaw tribe has led a sporadic violent campaign against the government and oil companies over the last five years.

Last week, Ijaw leaders said direct talks with President Olusegun Obasanjo would help end attacks.

The leaders, who shunned recent multi-party talks called by Obasanjo to address the delta issue, are drawing up an agenda for such a meeting.

Obasanjo offered this month to build a $1.8 billion highway through the vast region and generate 20,000 new jobs. MEND rejected the offer and responded with a car bomb that killed two people at an army barracks in the delta.