Niger releases French reporters

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Two French television journalists arrested in Niger have been released on bail and will return to France, the French government says.

Thomas Dandois and Pierre Creisson from Arte TV were arrested last month for interviewing Tuareg rebels.

They were charged with undermining state security, which carries a possible death sentence.

Two local journalists also accused of talking with rebels from the Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) remain in jail.

Bail for Mr Dandois and Mr Creisson was set at 10 million CFA francs ($22,350, £11,175) on Friday and the two men left prison later in the day.

"We thank all those who helped us - in Paris and here - and the journalistic community," Mr Creisson said on leaving jail for the French embassy in the capital Niamey.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Paris he was "pleased with the decision by the Niger judiciary".

Both men were expected back in France on Saturday, a statement by Mr Kouchner said.

Their lawyer, Moussa Coulibaly, said the men were now free to leave Niger but that the investigation into their case would continue.

Closed court

Mr Dandois and Mr Creisson were arrested after the government said they violated the terms of their accreditation agreement by filming the rebels in the north of the country.

The reporters told the authorities they were in the country to report on bird flu, but had gone to film the rebels instead, prosecutors said.

Their footage, including scenes where a Niger soldier is shown chained in the rebel headquarters, was shown to the closed court according to Mr Coulibaly.

Local reporter Moussa Kaka and magazine journalist Ibrahim Manzo Diallo are still in jail.

They are accused of having phone contact with the rebels, banned after fighting started in February.

At least 49 government troops have been killed.

The MNJ want more autonomy for the northern region which is rich in uranium.