NIGER police have arrested two Muslim priests for sending a letter to the US embassy demanding that Washington change its foreign policy, a source said on Thursday. Sheikh Souleymane Imam Younouss (75) and 40-year-old Elhadj Boubacar Issa were arrested on Wednesday, the source said. Younouss is president of the Association for Islamic Culture and Education while Issa is general secretary of the Niger Islamic Organisation. A police source said the pair had “given their advice on the recent incidents” — a reference to the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington — and asked “the US to change its external policy.” They also urged Washington “not to equate Islam with terrorism.” More than 90% of Niger’s 10-million population is Muslim. – AFP