Niger's security forces fought a gun battle with gunmen holding two westerners hostage, but the kidnappers escaped, according to a security source and state radio on Saturday. According to Reuters, "the kidnappers are in one vehicle and they are being pursued by reinforcements from Niamey," a security source said. The clash took place around Ouallam, near the border with Mali, some 160 km northwest of Niamey, the capital, where the pair, believed to be French, were kidnapped from a bar overnight.
