The latest move is a sign of progress in pacifying Niger's north after two years of revolt.

Over the last 48 hours, 386 rebels have been flown back to the town of Agadez, in northern Niger, state television reported.

"We are happy to see that these young men who took up arms have returned home to take part in building their country," Abba Malam Boukar, the governor of the Agadez region – home to rich deposit of uranium and centre of tough violence -said.

The rebels launched their armed struggle calling for better representation for the nomadic Tuareg people and a greater share of the minerals mined in their Agadez region, Reuters said.

Niger's President Mamadou Tandja initially dismissed the rebels as bandits and smugglers but earlier this year, he accepted Libyan help in ending the conflict and has agreed to amnesty all rebels who disarm.

Two rebel factions have agreed to disarm while a third, the FFR, said it is willing to join the peace process but not yet ready to lay down its weapons.

The armed conflict in Niger's north completely shut down the tourism industry and threatened mining operations.

But French nuclear giant Areva plans to open 1.2 billion euro uranium mine in Niger, which will make the desert state a leading global uranium exporter.