Niger/France

Four French nationals released by rebels

Article published on the 2008-06-26 Latest update 2008-06-27 12:15 TU

MNJ rebels in the north of Niger in 2007
(Photo: AFP)

The four French nationals kidnapped last Sunday in Niger have been released and arrived this morning in the northern town of Agadiz. All four are employees of French nuclear group Areva and were handed over to Red Cross officials on Wednesday.

Also released was a Niger national who had been kidnapped earlier according to a Red Cross official.

Speaking to RFI after the abduction, the leader of the rebel Movement of the People of Niger for Justice (MNJ), Aghali Alambo, said the four would be released with a message for Areva's management that would ask the company's bosses to put pressure on the governments of France and Niger.

The MNJ, a splinter faction of one of Niger's main Tuareg rebel groups, is seeking to obtain greater benefits for the people of mineral-rich northern Niger.

The rebel leader also said his Tuareg group was not a collection of "bandits" as Niger's government insists.

Areva said that the three men and one woman, who were seized in the northwestern town of Arlit while out jogging, were in good health and would be repatriated to France.

Meanwhile in Nigeria, the military said today that the eleven crew members of a Chevron supply vessel have been released. They were kidnapped six weeks ago in the Niger delta and a ransom of 30 million naira (165,000 euros) was demanded. The military did not say if a ransom had been paid.