Baghdad - Southern Iraq’s main oil pipeline extending to al- Dawra oil refinery in the capital Baghdad was struck by a bomb attack, the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) reported Friday.

Assem Jihad, spokesman for the country’s Oil Ministry, said an explosive device was planted underneath the pipeline, which begins the Udwaniya region.

The explosion caused several fires which engulfed the area with clouds of smoke.

The productivity of al-Dawra refinery ranges from 110,000 to 130,000 barrels a day, but it is expected to be reduced to half this amount because of Friday’s attack.

© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur