"One of our demands is to set aside between 20 percent and 30 percent from the uranium earnings to benefit the population living in the north of Niger," Aghaly Ag Alambo told Al Jazeera television in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

"Every company doing uranium business in Niger has to do this, whether this company is foreign or local," Alambo added.

He did not say how his group planned to force firms or the government satisfy the demand.

The MNJ wants greater autonomy for the uranium-producing northern Agadez region and a bigger share of its mineral wealth for local people.

Encouraged by rising world prices, Niger hopes to become the world's number two uranium producer by 2011 thanks to new mines being opened by France's Areva and the China Nuclear International Uranium Corp. (Sino-U).

Many other foreign companies have been awarded licences to explore for uranium, gold, oil and other minerals in Niger.

Alambo said MNJ fighters have been gaining the upper hand in the fighting against Niger government troops.

"We are on the offensive. The army is in a defensive position. They can not attack us," he said. A supportive local population have it tips on troop movements and the movement had better knowledge of the desert and rugged mountainous areas.

Alambo said he expected more fighting in the coming months. At least 200 rebels and 70 government troops have been killed in more than a year of inconclusive fighting.

He blamed successive governments in Niamey for failing to come good on demands agreed by both sides in the 1990s.

Alambo also praised on the United States, suggesting that his movement was looking to Washington to help to put pressure on the Niamey government.

"The United States is a friend, not an enemy. It backs democracy and supports the rights of minorities," he added.