Nairobi, Niamey - The French arm of the charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Thursday it would withdraw from Niger after being unable to clarify exactly why its operations were suspended three months ago.

MSF has been appealing to the government to allow it to resume work treating malnourished children in the Maradi region, where its work was banned from operating in July.

However, MSF said the government, which accused the charity of exaggerating the number of malnourished children in the region, had ignored all its requests, leaving it no choice but to withdraw.

"It is shocking that a government... would ignore the needs of thousands of children," Dr Christophe Fournier, president of the international board of MSF, said in a statement.

MSF said that 61,051 children were admitted into MSF feeding centres in the Zinder, Maradi and Tahoua regions between early 2008 and mid-September. (dpa)