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| Niger rebels 'kill 17 soldiers' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rebels in northern Niger say they have killed 17 government soldiers. | |
| The Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) says its forces attacked a large military convoy at Gougaram, destroying several vehicles. | The Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) says its forces attacked a large military convoy at Gougaram, destroying several vehicles. |
| Niger's army chief is reported to have said one soldier died in an accident. He added that four were injured by a land mine and three wounded in clashes. | |
| The MNJ represents the Tuareg. It says it is fighting for the rights of people in the uranium-rich Niger desert. | |
| A rebel website said Tuesday's fighting began after the army convoy had advanced to the northern town of Iferouane. | A rebel website said Tuesday's fighting began after the army convoy had advanced to the northern town of Iferouane. |
| "There was a clash between us and them, and 15 of them were killed," the website said. | "There was a clash between us and them, and 15 of them were killed," the website said. |
| It said that MNJ fighters also destroyed at least six government vehicles. | It said that MNJ fighters also destroyed at least six government vehicles. |
| But General Moumouni Boureima said in a statement, according to Reuters news agency, that just one soldier had died in a vehicle accident. The convoy had been taking food to Iferouane, he said. | |
| The attack comes two days after four policemen were killed in a landmine explosion in northern Niger. | The attack comes two days after four policemen were killed in a landmine explosion in northern Niger. |
| The authorities in Niamey accused Tuareg-led rebels of planting the mine, but the MNJ responded by saying it was a government mine. | The authorities in Niamey accused Tuareg-led rebels of planting the mine, but the MNJ responded by saying it was a government mine. |
| Military zone | Military zone |
| The rebels have killed more than 40 soldiers and military police since they began a campaign against the government in February. | The rebels have killed more than 40 soldiers and military police since they began a campaign against the government in February. |
| Niger's government regards the rebels as drug smugglers and bandits. | Niger's government regards the rebels as drug smugglers and bandits. |
| The conflict has turned northern Niger into a military zone. | The conflict has turned northern Niger into a military zone. |
| The government has accused a French nuclear energy company and Libya of backing the rebels. | The government has accused a French nuclear energy company and Libya of backing the rebels. |
| Niger is one of the world's top five producers of uranium. | Niger is one of the world's top five producers of uranium. |