Niger rebels free wounded troops

Many Tuaregs say they are marginalised by the government

Rebels in Niger have handed over 30 wounded soldiers to an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) team in the Sahara desert.

They are being moved to the nearest town of Airlit for treatment before being handed over to the authorities and their families, the ICRC said.

The troops were part of a group of 72 seized when Tuareg rebels attacked their military base last week.

A BBC reporter says it was the biggest attack since unrest began in 1991.

A rebel Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ) statement urged Amnesty International to investigate the disappearance of 253 civilians, after being rounded up by the army.

The army denies killing civilians.

That uprising ended with a 1995 peace deal but earlier this year the MNJ took up arms, saying the terms of that deal were not being implemented.

In April, the rebels, who say Tuaregs are marginalised by the government, attacked a uranium mine in northern Niger.

The north of Niger is rich in uranium and the country is one of the world's top five uranium producers.