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| Niger march for Arab expulsions | Niger march for Arab expulsions |
| (2 days later) | |
| Some 5,000 people have held a demonstration in the eastern Niger town of Diffa, calling on the government to go ahead with its plans to expel Arabs. | Some 5,000 people have held a demonstration in the eastern Niger town of Diffa, calling on the government to go ahead with its plans to expel Arabs. |
| The protesters accuse members of the 150,000-strong Mahamid Arab community of robbery and say their camels disturb the grazing of cattle and goats. | The protesters accuse members of the 150,000-strong Mahamid Arab community of robbery and say their camels disturb the grazing of cattle and goats. |
| A BBC reporter in the area says the dispute is largely related to competition for land and water. | A BBC reporter in the area says the dispute is largely related to competition for land and water. |
| The government last week reversed its policy of deporting the Arabs to Chad. | The government last week reversed its policy of deporting the Arabs to Chad. |
| Many of the Mahamid crossed into Niger more than 30 years ago to escape drought, famine and fighting in Chad. | Many of the Mahamid crossed into Niger more than 30 years ago to escape drought, famine and fighting in Chad. |
| Presidential challenger | Presidential challenger |
| The decision to suspend the expulsions came after a cabinet meeting on Friday. | The decision to suspend the expulsions came after a cabinet meeting on Friday. |
| NIGER'S MAHAMID ARABS Originally nomads from Chad 150,000 live mainly in Diffa State Many came after 1974 drought More fled 1980s Chad fighting Fought against 1990s Tuareg rebellion | |
| Some say that the Mahamid, many of whom are wealthy and control the much of eastern Niger's economy, are backing a politician who plans to challenge President Mamadou Tandja in elections due in 2008. | Some say that the Mahamid, many of whom are wealthy and control the much of eastern Niger's economy, are backing a politician who plans to challenge President Mamadou Tandja in elections due in 2008. |
| On Wednesday, Mahamid leaders told reporters they would defend themselves against attack and called on the United Nations to intervene. | On Wednesday, Mahamid leaders told reporters they would defend themselves against attack and called on the United Nations to intervene. |
| They insisted they were citizens of Niger and "have no other country to go to", after being given five days to leave the country. | They insisted they were citizens of Niger and "have no other country to go to", after being given five days to leave the country. |
| Like the rest of the country, the east of Niger is extremely arid. | Like the rest of the country, the east of Niger is extremely arid. |
| With the Sahara desert expanding quite quickly, there are growing fears that the scarcity of water could spark future problems in many African countries in the region. | With the Sahara desert expanding quite quickly, there are growing fears that the scarcity of water could spark future problems in many African countries in the region. |