"We're a major player in the economic and social development of Niger, which translates into a commitment to peace and security in this country," Areva's regional representative Zephirin Diabre told journalists.

He was speaking after talks on Tuesday with President Mamadou Tandja.

Diabre said he had thanked Tandja for "wise advice" on future behaviour by the giant nuclear firm.

"It was important for me to hear the head of state's wise advice in order to rebuild confidence," Diabre said, adding that discussions were planned for 2008 on "the medium and long-term prospects".

Relations between Areva and the Niamey authorities took a nosedive when the government in July expelled the local manager of the company, Dominique Pin, accusing him of having funded Tuareg rebels.

This was a reference to a rebellion launched last February by the Movement of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ).

Tandja said the largest private sector employer in his country had financed the MNJ to frighten rival foreign firms off investing in Niger's uranium reserves and moving into a zone at risk of conflict.

On August 5, the Niger government announced an end to Areva's monopoly in the sector.

For four decades the company has mined uranium underground at Arlit in the desert north of the Sahel nation and also has an open quarry at nearby Akokan.

Niger's Tuaregs, based in the rugged Agadez region of the deep south Sahara, claim a share of the sole source of foreign revenue for one of the world's poorest nations. Local community leaders have complained of serious environmental damage from the mines.

Since Areva's monopoly was lifted, Niamey has granted 29 prospecting and mining contracts to Chinese, Anglo-South African, Anglo-US, Australian-Maltese, Canadian and Russian firms.

The Agadez region remains a high-risk zone, where road traffic is banned at night and the army and rebels have accused each other of laying land mines.

The Tuaregs are a grouping of nomadic tribes who have roamed the Sahara since centuries before the countries of the region gained independence from colonial powers.

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