Abuja - Nigeria's most prominent militant group said Sunday it was calling a ceasefire after a week of attacks on oil installations in the restive Niger Delta province.

Jomo Gbomo, spokesman for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), told Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa that the "oil war" it declared last Sunday was being called off.

The militants attacked platforms, pipelines and oil flow-stations owned by Chevron, Shell and Agip during the week-long step-up in hostilities.

The group claimed to have killed dozens of soldiers during the attacks, although the military disputes the figures.

MEND launched the assaults after Nigerian troops pounded militant positions with gunships.

Militant groups such as MEND often attack oil installations and kidnap expatriate workers, saying they are fighting for a greater share of profits from oil exploitation for the poor of the region.

The government says they are merely criminal gangs intent on stealing oil and extorting money.

Prior to the latest string of attacks, the unrest had cut oil production by around a fifth since early 2006, helping to push up global oil prices and allowing Angola to surpass Nigeria as Africa's biggest oil exporter.

Oil companies have yet to reveal by how much the latest attacks further cut production.

Gbomo also denied accusations by the Nigerian military that MEND was recruiting youths to replace those members killed in clashes. (dpa)