Reports from Niger say the last of the former Tuareg rebels have now handed over their weapons to military authorities, in line with a peace agreement signed in Algiers last November.

State-run radio said fighters of the Union of Forces of Armed Resistance gave up their arms at a ceremony in the central town of Agadez, attended by the defence minister, Yahya Tounkara.

Representatives of France, Algeria and Burkina Faso -- who've been mediating between the rebels and the government -- also took part in the ceremony.

The two main Tuareg rebel groups officially disarmed in March.

Former rebels of the Toubou ethnic group have yet to hand in their weapons.