GAUHATI, Nov 26: A powerful Indian separatist rebel group claimed responsibility on Friday for blowing up an oil well and injuring at least five soldiers.

A spokesman for the United Liberation Front of Assam told reporters the blasts on Thursday were in response to a "lack of positive response from the Indian government" to their offer of peace talks.

The blasts came soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected the group's demand for independence for Assam. The rebels blew up an injection well belonging to India's state-owned Oil India in the Lankachi area in the east of the state.

In another incident they injured at least five soldiers in a grenade attack. -AFP