08/09/2007 : Reuters Africa
Hundreds march in Niger against French nuclear firm
Hundreds march in Niger against French nuclear firm
Sat 8 Sep 2007, 13:00 GMT
NIAMEY, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Hundreds of people in Niger marched on Saturday to demand the departure of French nuclear giant Areva, which they accuse of backing a rebellion in the uranium-rich north of the former French colony.
The Tuareg-led Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) has killed at least 45 government soldiers and taken dozens hostage since launching a campaign in February to demand more development for the region around the ancient Saharan trading town of Agadez.
Niger's north contains some of the world's largest reserves of uranium and Areva, which has for decades enjoyed a monopoly in the country, has two mines in the region which supply France's nuclear industry.
Niger's authorities have accused Areva of helping to fund the rebels and earlier this year declared the company's country director persona non grata.
The French firm denies the allegations.
"We are asking President Mamadou Tandja and the government purely and simply to expel Areva and to nationalise its subsidiaries operating here," said Nouhou Arzika, president of the "Citizens' Movement" which staged the march.
"No sacrifice is too big to safeguard national unity."
Niger's government policy is to increase the number of foreign firms mining uranium in the north, part of an effort to break the French monopoly and win better terms for the exploitation of its mineral resources.
The government has awarded dozens of exploration permits to Chinese, Canadian, European and other foreign firms in recent months.