Nuclear power workers kidnapped

Seven people have been kidnapped in Niger, a spokeswoman for France’s state-owned nuclear reactor builder Areva said today.

Pauline Briand said the seven were kidnapped overnight near the town of Arlit, in the north of the West African nation.

Ms Briand said that two of those abducted were Areva employees and French citizens.

She said the five others worked for an Areva subcontractor.

She declined to provide their nationalities or any further details.

A French Foreign Ministry official said the ministry was trying to confirm the kidnappings.

Al-Qaida’s North African affiliate is active in the region and has targeted French and other European nationals in previous kidnappings.