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KANO, Nigeria (AP) - Niger's government is struggling to control information about a nascent rebellion in its northern desert — suspending local media accused of backing the fighters and banning foreign reporters from the area. The rebels, though, have a Web site and satellite phones.
The Niger Movement for Justice started a campaign against the government early this year. They charge that the administration has reneged on promises of greater rights for members of the ethnic Tuareg minority — pledges that were key to a 1995 peace accord that ended a previous rebellion.
The rebels' complaints increasingly have been accompanied by violence in the West African country. In June, the group attacked the airport in the northern city of Agadez and overran an army base in an assault that left 13 soldiers dead. The rebels also briefly held a Chinese uranium company executive and continue to hold dozens of hostages from the army base.
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