NIAMEY:-   At least two soldiers were killed overnight while fighting off an attack by suspected Boko Haram jihadists in southeast Niger, a source in the security forces said Tuesday. "It was an audacious attack repelled by our valiant defence and security forces who lost two men all the same," the source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The insurgents from neighbouring Nigeria "came aboard about a dozen vehicles" early Monday evening to attack a National Guard outpost near Chetimari, a village about 20km from the main regional town, Diffa, the source said. –AFP 

"Since the Niger soldiers put up strong resistance, the Boko Haram elements withdrew to shell their positions from a distance," he added.