U.S. troops completes 1st phase of withdrawal from Niger

NIAMEY, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of National Defense of Niger and the U.S. Department of Defense announced on Monday the end of the first phase of the withdrawal of U.S. forces and equipment from Nigerien territory.

The announcement was made at the signing ceremony of documents transferring American rights to the Nigerien army at Air Base 101 in Niger's capital of Niamey in the presence of American ambass