7 French nuclear reactor workers kidnapped in Niger

Seven people working with French nuclear reactor builder Areva were kidnapped overnight in northern Niger, a spokeswoman for the state-owned company said Thursday. The seven were kidnapped overnight Wednesday to Thursday near the town of Arlit, Areva spokeswoman Pauline Briand said.

Two of those abducted, a man and a woman, were Areva employees and French citizens and the five others worked for Areva subcontractor Satom, she said. Briand declined to provide their nationalities or any further details. She said the company had not yet received any claim of responsibility for the kidnappings. (AP)