Rebels attack Agadez

Sources reported on 12 July 2008 that Tuareg rebels of the Niger Justice Movement (NJM) attacked the garrison town of Agadez, the major town in the uranium-producing northern region of the country, on 10 July. Authorities stated that the rebels fired rockets and heavy weapons on Agadez but no significant damage or casualties resulted from the attack. This is the second attack on the town since the June 2007 raid on Mano Dayak International Airport (DRZA/AJY). On 12 July the rebels issued a statement on their Web site warning civilians to move away from military posts and governmental buildings. The rebels stated that they launched the raid to disprove government claims that NJM has weakened since the death of its deputy commander.