Four French mining employees kidnapped by militants in northern Niger have been released.
TheTuareg rebel group, Niger Justice Movement, posted a statement on itsWeb site saying the hostages were released unharmed to the Red CrossWednesday.
The Red Cross has confirmed the release.
The four employees of the French company Areva were kidnapped on Sunday from a uranium mine in northern Niger.
Therebels had said they took the hostages to put pressure on Areva and theFrench government to urge Niger to share more benefits from thecountry's mining industry with inhabitants of the mineral-rich north.
NomadicTuaregs have staged periodic revolts in Niger and in neighboring Mali. In both countries, the light-skinned Tuaregs complain thatblack-dominated governments neglect their communities.
Earlier Wednesday, the rebels said army combat helicopters attacked their camps in the north of the country on Tuesday.
There has been no independent confirmation.