Niger Rebel Movement Hands Over 25 Hostages to Libyan Leader

The Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) announced the release of 25 hostages among them a Prefect kidnapped in the wake of the movement’s assault across the country.

Those hostages, mostly Nigerien soldiers, were handed to the Libyan leader, Mouammar Khadafi, the MNJ said in a release issued on Monday on its website.

“This act marks the first anniversary of our movement which has been combating for over one year the Niamey regime,” the source said.

The movement, which is not recognized by the Nigerien authorities, deplored that the “friendly and faithful” release of the prisoners does not favor an approach to dialog”.

The MNJ members are largely of Tuareg ethnic group. The northern Niger-based rebel group created in February 2007 claims a better socio-economic reinsertion and the hiring of local people by the mining companies operating in this region.

Source African Press Agency

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