Junta bans members from standing in elections

Niger's miltiary rulers banned themselves from standing in elections on Friday. The decree also applies to ministers in the government they have set up, along with many civil servants.

Military government chief Salou Djibo AFP

A decree signed by government head Major Salou Djibo declared members of the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) ineligible to stand for election to public office.

The Prime Minister and other ministers in the transitional government set up after the military kicked out President Mamadou Tandja last month are also forbidden to stand, as are police, gendarmes, troops, customs officers and employees of the forestry and water agencies.

The military has promised to hold elections but no date has yet been set.

The coup received widespread support in the uranium-rich state, thanks to opposition to Tandja's efforts to extend his second five-year term by means of a referendum to change the constitution.

Another decree signed Friday banned governors, district adminstrators and tribal chiefs from taking part in "party political activity".

The chiefs, who are highly influential in their areas, played an important role in promoting the referendum, which enabled Tandja to extend his mandate by three years.

On Wednesday  the junta named soldiers as governors of seven of the eight regions.