Blasts hit Mexican gas pipelines

In July, blasts affected a major oil pipeline in Mexico

Several explosions blamed on sabotage have damaged natural gas pipelines in the Mexican state of Veracruz, the state energy company Pemex says.

Pemex said it closed down parts of the pipeline network after the blasts triggered four fires.

Police are investigating the explosions which happened early on Monday.

In July, Mexican authorities increased security at strategic installations after a small rebel group said it was behind four blasts on oil pipelines.

A statement from Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos) said it believed Monday's explosions were deliberate.

The company immediately suspended pumping natural gas after loss of pressure was detected at six points on the pipe network.

Four fires set off by the blasts were quickly brought under control and no injuries were reported, Pemex said.

Some 12,000 people had been moved to safety, it said.

The reported sabotage comes two months after explosions affected sections of a major pipeline running between Mexico City and Guadalajara.

Those attacks were claimed by the Popular Revolutionary Army (EPR), a small leftist guerrilla group.

A statement from the EPR, which had been inactive for several years, said it had acted to press the government to release two of the group's jailed members.

The governor of Veracruz, Fidel Herrera, said no group had so far claimed responsibility for Monday's explosions.