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.

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.