The Sudanese Government says a newly-developed oil export pipeline in the east of the country has been sabotaged.

The pipeline, which is backed by an international consortium, was inaugurated last year by President Omar al-Bashir to carry essential revenue-earning exports from oilfields in southern Sudan to a purpose-built terminal near Port Sudan.

A government official said the blast had caused damage and a fire, but he did not expect the flow of oil to be disrupted for too long.

He blamed the attack on the eastern-based Bejah Congress, a member of the opposition umbrella grouping, the National Democratic Alliance.

Reconciliation

Sudan only began exporting oil last year and it is now an important source of foreign exchange.

But the oil industry has also become a target for rebel forces. An attack on the pipeline last September was blamed on the NDA.

A separate pipeline was also sabotaged last November. But the timing of the latest apparent rebel attack has taken some by surprise.

It comes as the government attempts to pursue a policy of national reconciliation.

Members of the Sudanese opposition had expressed optimism that President Bashir's move last month to sideline his political rival, Hassan al-Turabi, had improved the prospects for peace.

A Sudanese minister, Amin Hassan Omar, was quoted as saying the latest attack would not derail reconciliation efforts.