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.
Nairobi, Mogadishu - Gunmen have abducted two people working for the United Nations' mine action programme in 
Nairobi - The United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees called Friday for the deployment of an 
