Niger's former Prime Minister Hama Amadou (file photo)

Police in Niger have arrested former Prime Minister Hama Amadou on suspicion of corruption.

Witnesses say Mr. Amadou was arrested Thursday in the capital, Niamey.  The government has accused him of embezzling around $230,000 during his time in office from 2000 to 2007.

Mr. Amadou was forced to step down last year after he lost a parliamentary vote of no confidence related to a separate corruption scandal.

His opponents accused him of complicity in a corruption scandal in Niger's education ministry.  Two former education ministers have gone to jail since an audit found hundreds of thousands of dollars in public funds were missing.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.