Niger junta releases 5 ex-ministers

Niger's military rulers released five of six former ministers detained in last month's coup, but will keep them under watch pending a wide-ranging corruption probe, sources close to the junta said on Friday.

The release of the ministers late on Thursday comes days after the junta, which toppled former president Mamadou Tandja in a spectacular assault in the capital February 18, named a transitional government meant to guide the uranium exporting country to elections. (Reuters)