Nairobi/Niamey  - Twenty-six government soldiers and seven rebels have been killed in clashes in Niger, the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) said in a statement.

The rebel group said that the commander of the unit involved in the fighting on Friday was also missing.

Niger's authorities confirmed that the battle took place, but said that none of its soldiers were killed.

The MNJ, which consists mainly of the nomadic Tuareg people, has carried out a series of attacks on the Nigerian military and foreign mining interests since early 2007.

Rebels want a bigger share in the profits from the uranium mines in the north of the country.

Paris/Niamey  - Four French hostages held for three days by Tuareg rebels have been released in Niger to Red Cross officials, a company who employed them said Wednesday evening in Paris.

Nairobi/Abuja  - A militant group responsible for attacks on oil facilities that have disrupted oil production in Nigeria will observe a unilateral ceasefire from Tuesday midnight, the group said i

Abuja - The Nigerian government has suspended the head of the oil sector's supervisory agency while it investigates the sale of oil licenses held in May 2007 just 18 days before former president Ol

Nairobi/Abuja  - A militant group claimed Monday it had sabotaged a Shell pipeline in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta and killed 11 soldiers in the ensuing gun battle.