Niger opens Tuareg rebels talks

The government of Niger has opened ground-breaking talks in Libya's capital, Tripoli, with Tuareg rebels of the Niger Movement for Justice (MNJ).

Niger has previously refused to negotiate with the rebels, whom it labelled as bandits and drug-smugglers.

Niger is being represented by the Interior Minister Albedi Abouba.

The talks follow last month's visit to Niger by the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, and the release by the rebels of some government troops. Asnycnow15 English © 2009.