LONDON, June 22: World oil prices climbed on Friday, reversing earlier losses as traders worried over possible disruptions to energy supplies from Nigeria amid the African country's general strike.Brent North Sea crude for August delivery jumped 74 cents to $70.96 per barrel in electronic deals.

New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, climbed 55 cents to $69.20 per barrel in US pit trading.

“Prices rebounded after the failure of talks between the Nigerian government and the trade unions,” said CFC Seymour investment strategist, Dariusz Kowalczyk.

“We can have a decline in oil outputs from Nigeria. I am concerned as the oil workers are striking,” he added.

Nigeria's crippling general strike entered a third day on Friday with labour leaders and government officials deadlocked after all-night talks ended in failure.

Banks, schools and government offices remained closed across the country.

The price of what little fuel was available on the black market continued to climb, with public transport costing four times the usual price and fewer vehicles on the roads.

The unions are holding out for a complete reversal of the hike in fuel prices decided by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo on his last day in power.

He raised the pump price by 15 per cent to 75 naira (0.44 euros, $0.59). Oil production and exports have so far been unaffected by the strike action. Nigeria is the world's sixth exporter of crude oil.

On world oil markets meanwhile, prices had begun tumbling on Wednesday after the US Department of Energy (DoE) had said that stockpiles of crude oil grew by 6.9 million barrels in the week ended June 15. Most analysts had forecast a drop of 50,000 barrels.—AFP