Nigeria's main armed rebel group has said it is prolonging its truce by 30 days while warning that it is not giving up the fight.

"The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is extending its unilateral ceasefire which expired midnight (2300 GMT), September 15, 2009 by 30 days," the group said in a statement.

“The government should use this extension of time to do the right thing instead of pretending to talk peace while arming the military for a war it cannot win,” it added.

"The Oil and Gas industry who will bear the brunt of renewed hostilities should not be deceived by the amnesty charade or the recent military hardware purchases as this is only leading to another cycle of violence."

In August, MEND said it was ready to maintain the ceasefire 'and even extend it if the conditions are encouraging'.

On June 25, Nigeria's President Umaru Yar'Adua offered amnesty to all militants who laid down their arms in the Delta region.

The arms were to be handed over in centers where the fighters would be registered under a reintegration program running from August 6 to October 4.

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