Niger: Libyan crisis strengthens al Qaeda

Niger's justice minister Marou Amadou said on Friday that the threat of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is becoming graver than ever before. He also voiced concern that weapons plundered from the Libyan conflict could fall into the hands of al Qaeda or other rebel groups who could use the weapons to destabilize countries in the region.                
"AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) gets its provisions in Libya and that's a danger for all of us, so really, we are in a very grave situation, and I think people should start understand all these problems," Amadou said.                

A Nigerien soldier and three suspected al Qaeda members died and two soldiers were wounded in a clash in the Air mountain region in the north of Niger on Thursday, according to Niger's defense minister.                

Niger said its troops clashed with al Qaeda members, who were trying to set up a camp in the area, and freed 59 youths of around 19 to 20 years old, who had been recruited to be trained by the North African wing of Al Qaeda (AQIM).  

-Reuters