This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22654584

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'masterminded' Niger suicide bombs Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'masterminded' Niger suicide bombs
(about 1 hour later)
Militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar masterminded the two suicide bombs in Niger on Thursday, reports say.Militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar masterminded the two suicide bombs in Niger on Thursday, reports say.
Mr Belmokhtar is said to have "supervised" the bombings, according to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar.Mr Belmokhtar is said to have "supervised" the bombings, according to Mauritanian news agency Alakhbar.
Suicide bombers struck a military camp and a French-run uranium mine in two towns in north-west Niger, killing 20 people.Suicide bombers struck a military camp and a French-run uranium mine in two towns in north-west Niger, killing 20 people.
Mr Belmokhtar's group threatened further attacks, in a statement posted on internet forums, reports AFP.Mr Belmokhtar's group threatened further attacks, in a statement posted on internet forums, reports AFP.
The bomb at a barracks in Agadez killed 19, including 18 soldiers. Four attackers died. A fifth held out but officials said he too was overpowered.The bomb at a barracks in Agadez killed 19, including 18 soldiers. Four attackers died. A fifth held out but officials said he too was overpowered.
The attack on the Somair mine, in the town of Arlit, killed one person and injured 14, its operator Areva said.The attack on the Somair mine, in the town of Arlit, killed one person and injured 14, its operator Areva said.
Alakhbar quoted El-Hassen Ould Khalil, a spokesman for Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group as saying: "It was Belmokhtar who himself supervised the operational plans of attacks."Alakhbar quoted El-Hassen Ould Khalil, a spokesman for Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group as saying: "It was Belmokhtar who himself supervised the operational plans of attacks."
The attacks "targeted elite French forces" who were providing security at the uranium mine that is majority-owned by Areva, Mr Khalil added.The attacks "targeted elite French forces" who were providing security at the uranium mine that is majority-owned by Areva, Mr Khalil added.
Earlier, the jihadist Mujao group had said it had carried out the two attacks. However Mr Khalil's statement to Alakhbar said Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group jointly led the attacks with Mujao. An online statement, reportedly signed by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, read: "This is the first of our responses to the statement of the president of Niger - from his masters in Paris - that he eliminated jihad and the mujahideen militarily."
Earlier, the jihadist Mujao group had said it had carried out the two attacks. However, Mr Khalil's statement to Alakhbar said Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group jointly led the attacks with Mujao.
Mujao spokesman Abu Walid Sahraoui said on Thursday that the operations targeted "the enemies of Islam in Niger", according to AFP.Mujao spokesman Abu Walid Sahraoui said on Thursday that the operations targeted "the enemies of Islam in Niger", according to AFP.
"We attacked France, and Niger because of its co-operation with France, in the war against Sharia," he added, thought to be a reference to French and Nigerien involvement in combating Islamists in neighbouring Mali."We attacked France, and Niger because of its co-operation with France, in the war against Sharia," he added, thought to be a reference to French and Nigerien involvement in combating Islamists in neighbouring Mali.
Algerian attackAlgerian attack
In his statement threatening further attacks, Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group warned against Western intervention in the region.In his statement threatening further attacks, Mokhtar Belmokhtar's group warned against Western intervention in the region.
"Columns of commandos and those seeking martyrdom are ready and waiting for their targets," the statement said."Columns of commandos and those seeking martyrdom are ready and waiting for their targets," the statement said.
"We will have more operations, by the strength and power of Allah, and not only that, but we will move the battle to the inside of his country if he (the president of Niger) doesn't withdraw his mercenary army," another statement to Mauritania's ANI news agency said.
On Thursday, French President Francois Hollande vowed to protect French interests and co-operate with Niger in its "fight against terrorism".On Thursday, French President Francois Hollande vowed to protect French interests and co-operate with Niger in its "fight against terrorism".
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was believed to be behind the deadly attack on an internationally run Algerian gas plant in January in which 37 hostages and 29 insurgents were killed.Mokhtar Belmokhtar was believed to be behind the deadly attack on an internationally run Algerian gas plant in January in which 37 hostages and 29 insurgents were killed.
He broke away from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) last year and formed a new jihadist group, known variously as the Signed-in-Blood Battalion, the Masked Men Brigade and the Khaled Abu al-Abbas Brigade.He broke away from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) last year and formed a new jihadist group, known variously as the Signed-in-Blood Battalion, the Masked Men Brigade and the Khaled Abu al-Abbas Brigade.
Armed forces in Chad said he died in a raid in northern Mali on 2 March, although there was no confirmation and his death has been declared many times before.Armed forces in Chad said he died in a raid in northern Mali on 2 March, although there was no confirmation and his death has been declared many times before.
Mujao (the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa) is a splinter group of AQIM which operates mostly in northern Mali.Mujao (the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa) is a splinter group of AQIM which operates mostly in northern Mali.
It says its objective is to spread jihad to West Africa rather than confine itself to the Sahel and Maghreb regions - the main focus of AQIM.It says its objective is to spread jihad to West Africa rather than confine itself to the Sahel and Maghreb regions - the main focus of AQIM.