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| Niger's junta takeover condemned | Niger's junta takeover condemned |
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| The African Union has condemned a coup in Niger, where soldiers detained President Mamadou Tandja after gun battles in the capital, Niamey. | The African Union has condemned a coup in Niger, where soldiers detained President Mamadou Tandja after gun battles in the capital, Niamey. |
| Former colonial power France has also criticised the coup and West African bloc Ecowas has sent a team to talk to the plotters, led by Col Salou Djibo. | Former colonial power France has also criticised the coup and West African bloc Ecowas has sent a team to talk to the plotters, led by Col Salou Djibo. |
| But one opposition activist told the BBC the soldiers were "honest patriots" who were fighting tyranny. | But one opposition activist told the BBC the soldiers were "honest patriots" who were fighting tyranny. |
| State TV reported that Mr Tandja was "safe" but did not say where he was. | State TV reported that Mr Tandja was "safe" but did not say where he was. |
| Heavy artillery | Heavy artillery |
| Mr Tandja provoked a political crisis last August when he changed the constitution of the uranium-rich country to allow him to remain in power indefinitely. | Mr Tandja provoked a political crisis last August when he changed the constitution of the uranium-rich country to allow him to remain in power indefinitely. |
| "France condemns the taking of power by non-constitutional means," French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said. | "France condemns the taking of power by non-constitutional means," French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said. |
| NIGER Chronic povertyPopulation 14 million, 61% live on less than $1 a dayResource rich Huge reserves of uranium, Chinese firms digging for oilPolitcally unstable History of coups, assassinations and on-off rebellion by nomadic Tuareg people in the north Source: World Bank Country profile: Niger | NIGER Chronic povertyPopulation 14 million, 61% live on less than $1 a dayResource rich Huge reserves of uranium, Chinese firms digging for oilPolitcally unstable History of coups, assassinations and on-off rebellion by nomadic Tuareg people in the north Source: World Bank Country profile: Niger |
| AU chief Jean Ping said he was watching developments "with concern". | AU chief Jean Ping said he was watching developments "with concern". |
| The Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas), which suspended Niger after Mr Tandja's actions, said it had "zero tolerance" for any unconstitutional changes of government. | The Economic Community Of West African States (Ecowas), which suspended Niger after Mr Tandja's actions, said it had "zero tolerance" for any unconstitutional changes of government. |
| "We condemn the coup d'etat just as we condemn the constitutional coup d'etat by Tandja," Ecowas official Abdel Fatau Musa told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "We condemn the coup d'etat just as we condemn the constitutional coup d'etat by Tandja," Ecowas official Abdel Fatau Musa told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| He said the group had already sent a team to Niger and would maintain sanctions "until constitutional order is restored". | He said the group had already sent a team to Niger and would maintain sanctions "until constitutional order is restored". |
| The BBC's Idy Baraou in the capital, Niamey, says 10 people, including four soldiers, died in the coup. | The BBC's Idy Baraou in the capital, Niamey, says 10 people, including four soldiers, died in the coup. |
| The morning after the gun battles, people in the city were going to mosques and shops as normal. | The morning after the gun battles, people in the city were going to mosques and shops as normal. |
| There was not an obvious military presence on the streets, but heavy artillery had been deployed around the presidential palace, our correspondent added. | There was not an obvious military presence on the streets, but heavy artillery had been deployed around the presidential palace, our correspondent added. |
| Freedom fighters? | Freedom fighters? |
| In a televised address on Thursday evening, a spokesman for the plotters announced that the constitution had been suspended and all state institutions dissolved. | In a televised address on Thursday evening, a spokesman for the plotters announced that the constitution had been suspended and all state institutions dissolved. |
| The junta, which has called itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, imposed a curfew and closed the country's borders - measures that were lifted on Friday. | The junta, which has called itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, imposed a curfew and closed the country's borders - measures that were lifted on Friday. |
| NIGER JUNTA Col Salou Djibo Coup leaderCol Djibrilla Hima Hamidou Involved in 1999 coupCol Goukoye Abdul KarimouJunta spokesmanCol Amadou Harouna | NIGER JUNTA Col Salou Djibo Coup leaderCol Djibrilla Hima Hamidou Involved in 1999 coupCol Goukoye Abdul KarimouJunta spokesmanCol Amadou Harouna |
| The plotters said their aim was to restore democracy and save the population from "poverty, deception and corruption". | The plotters said their aim was to restore democracy and save the population from "poverty, deception and corruption". |
| Col Djibo is commander of "military zone 1", which includes Niamey, Dosso and Tillaberi regions. | Col Djibo is commander of "military zone 1", which includes Niamey, Dosso and Tillaberi regions. |
| Analysts say his position puts him in control of 40% of the country's military arsenal. | Analysts say his position puts him in control of 40% of the country's military arsenal. |
| Another of the plotters, Col Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, was junta spokesman during the last military takeover in 1999. | Another of the plotters, Col Djibrilla Hima Hamidou, was junta spokesman during the last military takeover in 1999. |
| The president was assassinated during that coup, but civilian rule was restored within a year. | The president was assassinated during that coup, but civilian rule was restored within a year. |
| One opposition activist, Mahamadou Karijo, whose Party for Democracy and Socialism has been bitterly opposed to Mr Tandja's rule, praised the soldiers for fighting tyranny. | One opposition activist, Mahamadou Karijo, whose Party for Democracy and Socialism has been bitterly opposed to Mr Tandja's rule, praised the soldiers for fighting tyranny. |
| "They behave like they say - they are not interested in political leadership, they will fight to save the Nigerien people from any kind of tyranny," he told Network Africa. | "They behave like they say - they are not interested in political leadership, they will fight to save the Nigerien people from any kind of tyranny," he told Network Africa. |
| History of instability | History of instability |
| The government and opposition had been holding on-off talks since December to try to resolve the country's political crisis. | The government and opposition had been holding on-off talks since December to try to resolve the country's political crisis. |
| Profile: Mamadou Tandja | Profile: Mamadou Tandja |
| 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. |
| The 71-year-old leader was grabbed by soldiers while he chaired his weekly cabinet meeting. | The 71-year-old leader was grabbed by soldiers while he chaired his weekly cabinet meeting. |
| The junta issued a communique on Friday saying government departments would now be run by senior civil servants. | The junta issued a communique on Friday saying government departments would now be run by senior civil servants. |
| It is thought that the soldiers are holding the cabinet ministers, although no mention has been made of their fates. | It is thought that the soldiers are holding the cabinet ministers, although no mention has been made of their fates. |
| 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, the French energy firm Areva has begun work on the world's second-biggest uranium mine - ploughing an estimated $1.5bn (£970m) into the project. | |
| China National Petroleum Corporation signed a $5bn deal in 2008 to pump oil within three years. | China National Petroleum Corporation signed a $5bn deal in 2008 to pump oil within three years. |
| Are you in Niger or the region? What is your reaction to the current situation? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below: | Are you in Niger or the region? What is your reaction to the current situation? You can send us your views and experiences using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |