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Niger leader 'held by soldiers' | Niger leader 'held by soldiers' |
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Niger President Mamadou Tandja and his cabinet are being held by soldiers after gun battles in the capital, a government source has told the BBC. | Niger President Mamadou Tandja and his cabinet are being held by soldiers after gun battles in the capital, a government source has told the BBC. |
Gunfire broke out around the presidential palace at about 1300 (1200 GMT) and continued for 30 minutes, says the BBC's Idy Baraou in Niamey. | Gunfire broke out around the presidential palace at about 1300 (1200 GMT) and continued for 30 minutes, says the BBC's Idy Baraou in Niamey. |
State radio is playing military music - a similar pattern to two coups in the 1990s. | |
Tensions have been growing in the uranium-rich nation since last year. | Tensions have been growing in the uranium-rich nation since last year. |
Mr Tandja was widely criticised when he changed the constitution in August to allow him to stand for a third term. | Mr Tandja was widely criticised when he changed the constitution in August to allow him to stand for a third term. |
Long-term tensions | Long-term tensions |
Our correspondent says tanks have been firing and witnesses report seeing injured people being taken to hospital. | Our correspondent says tanks have been firing and witnesses report seeing injured people being taken to hospital. |
An unnamed French official told AFP that a coup attempt was under way. | An unnamed French official told AFP that a coup attempt was under way. |
"All I can say is that it would appear that Tandja is not in a good position," he told the news agency on condition of anonymity. | "All I can say is that it would appear that Tandja is not in a good position," he told the news agency on condition of anonymity. |
AT THE SCENE Idy BaraouBBC News, Niamey The exchange of gunfire has been between soldiers but it is confusing and one cannot tell one side from another. I saw tanks being fired and soldiers on the streets using machine guns. | AT THE SCENE Idy BaraouBBC News, Niamey The exchange of gunfire has been between soldiers but it is confusing and one cannot tell one side from another. I saw tanks being fired and soldiers on the streets using machine guns. |
The area near the presidential palace is where the business of government takes place and at least four military barracks are based there. | The area near the presidential palace is where the business of government takes place and at least four military barracks are based there. |
People have fled the area and some civil servants have locked themselves inside their offices. | People have fled the area and some civil servants have locked themselves inside their offices. |
Earlier, smoke could be seen from the roof of the office where President Mamadou Tandja was holding his cabinet meeting. | Earlier, smoke could be seen from the roof of the office where President Mamadou Tandja was holding his cabinet meeting. |
Soldiers captured Mr Tandja while he was chairing his weekly cabinet meeting, the government source told the BBC. | |
AFP later reported an official as saying Mr Tandja was possibly being held at a military barracks about 20km (13 miles) west of Niamey. | |
A witness told the news agency that the bodies of three soldiers had been taken to a military mortuary. | |
The situation in Niamey remains unclear - there has apparently been no large-scale deployment of military personnel. | The situation in Niamey remains unclear - there has apparently been no large-scale deployment of military personnel. |
The government and opposition have been holding on-off talks since December - mediated by the regional body Ecowas - to try to resolve the country's political crisis. | The government and opposition have been holding on-off talks since December - mediated by the regional body Ecowas - to try to resolve the country's political crisis. |
Mr Tandja, a former army officer, was first voted into office in 1999 and was returned to power in an election in 2004. | Mr Tandja, a former army officer, was first voted into office in 1999 and was returned to power in an election in 2004. |
Niger has experienced long periods of military rule since independence from France in 1960. | Niger has experienced long periods of military rule since independence from France in 1960. |
It is one of the world's poorest countries, but Mr Tandja's supporters argue that his decade in power has brought a measure of economic stability. | It is one of the world's poorest countries, but Mr Tandja's supporters argue that his decade in power has brought a measure of economic stability. |
Under his tenure, work has begun on the world's second-biggest uranium mine, and energy deals have been signed with Chinese firms. | Under his tenure, work has begun on the world's second-biggest uranium mine, and energy deals have been signed with Chinese firms. |