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| Niger Tuaregs 'to lay down arms' | Niger Tuaregs 'to lay down arms' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Tuareg rebels fighting the government in Niger say they are laying down their arms, as part of peace talks brokered by Libya. | Tuareg rebels fighting the government in Niger say they are laying down their arms, as part of peace talks brokered by Libya. |
| The announcement was made by the Tuareg rebel leader, Aghaly ag Alambo, following a meeting in Libya with the country's leader, Muammar Gaddafi. | The announcement was made by the Tuareg rebel leader, Aghaly ag Alambo, following a meeting in Libya with the country's leader, Muammar Gaddafi. |
| Mr Alambo said he was also speaking for Tuareg rebels in neighbouring Mali - they would disarm too, he said. | Mr Alambo said he was also speaking for Tuareg rebels in neighbouring Mali - they would disarm too, he said. |
| The revolts by Tuareg nomads broke out last year in the two Saharan countries. | The revolts by Tuareg nomads broke out last year in the two Saharan countries. |
| The government of Niger has welcomed Mr Alambo's statement and Libya's peacemaking efforts. | The government of Niger has welcomed Mr Alambo's statement and Libya's peacemaking efforts. |
| Following his meeting with Mr Gaddafi in southern Libya, Mr Alambo said he also spoke on behalf of the leader of the Tuareg rebellion in neighbouring Mali, Ibrahim Ag Bahanga. | Following his meeting with Mr Gaddafi in southern Libya, Mr Alambo said he also spoke on behalf of the leader of the Tuareg rebellion in neighbouring Mali, Ibrahim Ag Bahanga. |
| The Tuareg are an historically nomadic people living in the Sahara and Sahel regions of North Africa. | The Tuareg are an historically nomadic people living in the Sahara and Sahel regions of North Africa. |
| Tuareg militants in Mali and Niger have been engaged in sporadic armed struggles for several decades. | Tuareg militants in Mali and Niger have been engaged in sporadic armed struggles for several decades. |
| But analysts are divided over whether the Tuareg revolts have been driven by genuine political grievances or efforts to defend control of drugs, arms and migrant-smuggling routes. | But analysts are divided over whether the Tuareg revolts have been driven by genuine political grievances or efforts to defend control of drugs, arms and migrant-smuggling routes. |