16 December 2008
Niamey — The UN's special envoy to Niger has gone missing in the West African country, UN and Niger officials say.
Robert Fowler, a veteran Canadian diplomat, was travelling with another Canadian and a local driver, about 40km (25 miles) from the capital, Niamey.
Their vehicle was found on Sunday evening with the engine still running, a UN spokesman said.
The spokesman, Farhan Haq, said it was not yet known if the group had been kidnapped and were being held hostage.
UN officials said Mr Fowler, who is based in Canada, was in Niger for meetings with officials.
But Niger's foreign ministry said in a statement that Mr Fowler was in the country on private business and had left Niamey on Sunday morning without informing the authorities.
Security forces were searching for Mr Fowler and his companions, the foreign ministry said.
The group visited the gold mining region of Samira before their disappearance, the ministry added.
The region is far from fighting in the north between the army and Tuareg rebels.
Mr Fowler retired from the Canadian foreign service two years after a long career that included postings as ambassador to Italy and the United Nations.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed Mr Fowler his special envoy to Niger in July.
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