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Niger threatens illegal smokers 

Niamey - Smokers in the desert state of Niger who break newly enforced anti-smoking laws by lighting up in public or at work, face punishments of up to three months in prison, the government said on Friday.

Smugglers, bandits and rebels in Niger profit from the illegal trans-Saharan cigarette trade - estimated by analysts to be worth $1-billion a year - criss-crossing the impoverished West African state's lawless north.

The government's council of ministers in the faraway southwestern capital decided late on Thursday to adopt ways of applying a May 2006 anti-smoking law, it said in a statement.

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• Niger cabinet passes smoking ban 

Niger's government has issued a decree enforcing a ban on smoking in public places and on communal transport.

A BBC reporter in the capital, Niamey, says the ban can be applied with immediate effect.

But he says it is not clear if there will be a period of grace during a planned public information campaign.

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• Niger threatens illegal smokers with jail  

Smokers in the desert state of Niger who break newly enforced anti-smoking laws by lighting up in public or at work, face punishments of up to three months in prison, the government said on Friday.

Smugglers, bandits and rebels in Niger profit from the illegal trans-Saharan cigarette trade -- estimated by analysts to be worth $1 billion a year -- criss-crossing the impoverished West African state's lawless north.

The government's council of ministers in the faraway southwestern capital decided late on Thursday to adopt ways of applying a May 2006 anti-smoking law, it said in a statement.

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Omar Keita and Maman Abou will remain in jail 

The Court of Appeal of Niamey has confirmed the first judgement (18 months in jail!).

There is still the possibility to go to the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation).

The people locally have been shocked by this decision and the newspaper Le Republicain has launched an internet petition of its own. You can sign it by going to

http://www.republicain-niger.com/...

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