Niger has toughened its anti-terrorism legislation to help its security forces fight a rebellion by Tuareg fighters in the country.

A law passed by the West African country's parliament on Saturday penalizes the manufacture or possession of explosive devices, hostage-taking, attacks on transport and unlawful possession of radioactive materials.

The rebel Tuareg-led Niger Justice Movement (MNJ) has been fighting a guerrilla campaign for more than a year against the central government to press for more autonomy and a greater share of the wealth of the uranium-rich northern region.

"The integration of this anti-terrorism law into our judicial structure equips our authorities to fight both effectively and legally this scourge that spares no country," Justice Minister Dagra Mamadou told parliament.

Niger, a landlocked former French colony, is one of the world's top producers of uranium, which is used to fuel nuclear reactors and can also serve to manufacture nuclear weapons.

International human rights groups have accused Niger's security forces of committing abuses, including extra-judicial killings, in their fight to quell the Tuareg rebellion.

SG/HAR