International envoys meet with coup leaders
As an international mission arrived in the capital for urgent talks with Niger’s coup leaders, thousands of people turned out for more demonstrations Sunday in support of the military junta.On Saturday, military leaders, who took over the country on Thursday, announced elections without specifying a date.
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Thousands of people took part in what state radio called a “gigantic demonstration” in the country’s second largest city, Zinder, Sunday "to salute the defence and security forces for the patriotic work which it has accomplished".
At least 10,000 supporters marched through the capital, Niamey, on Saturday.
UN representative Said Djinnit, Ramtane Lamamra, African Union commissioner for peace and security, and the head of the 15-nation regional economic bloc, Ecowas, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, were to meet Sunday with coup leader Major Salou Djibo in Niamey.
All three groups have condemned military overthrow of President Mohammed Ibn Chambas, though the AU and Ecowas have also previously criticised the deposed president, Mamadou Tandja, after he pushed through a controversial referendum last year extending his mandate, and dissolved the government.
Niger was suspended from the AU and kicked out of Ecowas in response to his move.
The military leaders, calling themselves the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) suspended the constitution that Tandja forced through, and dissolved his government.
They have promised elections, but say they need to stabilise the country first.
"We plan to organise elections but first we have to stabilise the situation," Colonel Djibrilla Hamidou Hima, a junta leader, told journalists in Mali on Saturday.
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