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Niger president claims victory Massive win for Niger president
(about 4 hours later)
Niger's President Mamadou Tandja, 71, is claiming victory in a referendum he called to change the constitution and run for a third term in office. Niger's president has overwhelmingly won a referendum that will allow him to stay in power beyond the end of his second term in office, results show.
Correspondents in the capital, Niamey, say giant posters have gone up in the city bearing a message of thanks to voters from Mr Tandja. Mamadou Tandja, 71, had already claimed victory before the official announcement, putting up giant posters in the capital thanking the voters.
Official results are expected later on Friday. Niger's electoral commission has said there was a 68% turnout. The election commission said Mr Tandja won more than 92% of the vote.
Opposition groups had urged a boycott and the EU and UN expressed concerns. Opposition groups had urged a boycott and dispute the 68% turnout figure, saying it was as low as 4%.
However, the country's electoral commission says the president is heading for an overwhelming win. The BBC's Idy Baraou in the capital, Niamey, says that although Tuesday's voting was not as busy as in previous elections there was a steady trickle of people turning up at polling stations.
On Thursday, the opposition grouping Co-ordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (CFDR) said its investigations showed that turnout was as low as 4%. MAMADOU TANDJA Former army colonel, part of 1974 coupFirst elected in 1999First Niger leader to be re-elected - in 2004Says he must stay in office to continue economic projectsCritics say the referendum was the same as a coup class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8181537.stm">Profile: Mamadou Tandja class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8184002.stm">In pictures: Niger's third term poll
The BBC's Idy Baraou said in Niamey that Tuesday's voting was slow with small groups of people turning up at at polling stations. Our reporter says the opposition grouping Co-ordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (CFDR) had no representatives at the electoral commission and was unable to explain how it came up with its figures.
MAMADOU TANDJA Former army colonel, part of 1974 coupFirst elected in 1999First Niger leader to be re-elected - in 2004Says he must stay in office to continue economic projectsCritics say the referendum is the same as a coup class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8181537.stm">Profile: Mamadou Tandja class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8184002.stm">In pictures: Niger's third term poll The result means Mr Tandja will be able to go ahead with plans to change the constitution and run for a third term in office.
Security forces fired tear gas at opposition supporters in their northern stronghold of Illela and some were also arrested in Dosso in the east, accused of trying to disrupt the poll, he said. The president, whose second term ends in December, dissolved both parliament and the constitutional court to push through the referendum.
The president dissolved both parliament and the constitutional court to push through the referendum.
His backers say he has boosted living standards during 10 years in power and deserves to remain in office.His backers say he has boosted living standards during 10 years in power and deserves to remain in office.
The president says he needs more time to complete multi-billion-dollar projects such as a uranium mine, an oil refinery and a dam on the River Niger.The president says he needs more time to complete multi-billion-dollar projects such as a uranium mine, an oil refinery and a dam on the River Niger.
But his critics portray him as a classic strongman determined to hold on to power so he can benefit financially from the projects he has started.But his critics portray him as a classic strongman determined to hold on to power so he can benefit financially from the projects he has started.
The European Union has already suspended an aid payment and warned of "serious consequences" for its co-operation with Niger if the president carries through his plans.The European Union has already suspended an aid payment and warned of "serious consequences" for its co-operation with Niger if the president carries through his plans.