"We are in no way involved in such an affair," Mindanaou told a press conference in Tunis, adding that the United Nations Security Council had "dropped all suspicion" against Niger.

Mindanaou recalled the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq had also denied the accusations against Niger.

In December last year, in a list of arguments in favour of declaring war against Iraq, Washington called on Baghdad to shed light on alleged attempts to buy uranium from Niger.

Niger's Prime Minister Hama Amadou said then that his country had never sold uranium to Iraq, although "in the 1980s when Iraq was not facing sanctions from the great powers, it tried to buy uranium under the aegis of bilateral cooperation."

Niger, the third-biggest uranium producer in the world and second poorest country on the planet, has slipped deeper into poverty as global uranium prices have plunged.

Concerning thet US-British-led war in Iraq, Mindanaou reiterated Niger's support for international law and the fundamental role of the United Nations in resolving conflicts.

She said she hoped the war would "end as quickly as possible" and that "the UN will quickly resume its rightful role" in conflict resolution.

During her visit to Tunisia, Mindanaou discussed key African and international issues with her Tunisian counterpart Habib Ben Yahia, officials said.

SPACE.WIRE