PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, May 26 (Reuters) - Nigeria's army confirmed on Monday there had been an explosion at an oil facility owned by Royal Dutch Shell <RDSa.L>, hours after Niger Delta rebels claimed to have blown up a pipeline.

"There was an explosion at a facility owned by Shell near Awoba flow station," said Sagir Musa, military spokesman in Rivers state. "The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined but it is strongly suspected that explosives might have been used by miscreants." (For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ ) (Reporting by Austin Ekeinde; Writing by Nick Tattersall)

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