The six men were black and said they all had roots in neighbouring Mali and Niger, although some had been born in Libya and had Libyan citizenship.

"Step in my steps, " he cautions, noting that the Niger army had mined the area, where there had been a school for Tuareg.

Staff at the WHO country office in Niger reported today that no human cases are presently under investigation for possible H5N1 infection.

This is a big day for the people of Burkina Faso, to be followed by Mali and Niger. These are the three hyperendemic countries.

But Niger is still judged “off-track” to meet its target, because continuing at the current rate will still result in a reduction of slightly below two-thirds.