Even in Niger, West Africa, one of the poorest countries in the world, my Nigerien friends regularly send me emails from their smart phones.

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Malian and Nigerien security sources also reported the strikes, saying two Islamist bases with fuel stocks and weapon dumps near Gao had been destroyed.

BBC: Mali crisis: Troops 'take northern town of Hombori'

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius spoke with his Nigerien counterpart and expressed France's solidarity with Nigerien authorities in the fight against terrorist groups, the ministry said.

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We also had to consider that the former Nigerien officials knew that what they were saying would reach the U.S. government and that this might have influenced what they said.

CNN: Text of CIA Director George Tenet's statement

In Saturday's other game Nigerien striker Alhassane Issoufu put FUS Rabat in the lead five minutes after the break but Simon Silwiumba drew the home side level with 17 minutes remaining.

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Those who did make it to the three-day event saw performers including soulful Sudanese singer Amira Kheir, Nigerien group Koudede, and an all-star tribute to the music of legendary Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure.

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He reported back to us that one of the former Nigerien (sic) officials he met stated that he was unaware of any contract being signed between Niger and rogue states for the sale of uranium during his tenure in office.

CNN: Text of CIA Director George Tenet's statement