France tells citizens to avoid going to Niger if possible

PARIS (Reuters) - French citizens should avoid going to Niger where possible, the French foreign ministry said on Wednesday, after six French aid workers were shot dead in Niger on Aug. 9.

The foreign ministry said on its website that most of Niger was deemed a "red" high-risk zone, apart from the capital Niamey which was classified as a relatively lower-risk "orange" zone but a city still to be avoided if possible.

Former colonial power France and other countries have warned people against travelling to parts of Niger where militants including Boko Haram and an affiliate of Islamic State operate in rural areas much further from the capital than the reserve.

(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Catherine Evans)