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Niger ex-leader 'must face trial' Niger ex-leader 'must be charged'
(about 4 hours later)
Niger's ousted President Mamadou Tandja should be tried for violating the constitution and for corruption, local human rights group Fusad says. Niger's ousted President Mamadou Tandja should be tried for high treason, the country's main opposition party says.
Mr Tandja changed the constitution last year to allow him to stay in power beyond his legal term limit. Mohamed Bazoum, deputy chairman of PNDS Taraya, told the BBC that Mr Tandja's decision last year to scrap term limits for presidents was a criminal offence.
Fusad, which is allied to opposition parties that welcomed last week's army coup, say he also gave out contracts to foreign oil and uranium firms. Mr Tandja, 71, was overthrown in a coup last Thursday. The military takeover was welcomed by opposition leaders like Mr Bazoum and some human rights groups.
The new junta has said it will oversee the writing of a new constitution.The new junta has said it will oversee the writing of a new constitution.
Calling themselves the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, the coup leaders have promised to turn Niger into a democracy. Mr Bazoum's call for Mr Tandja to be tried for treason came after local rights activists made similar calls.
In a radio broadcast on Monday evening, they said putsch leader Salou Djibo would act as both the head of state and government, ruling by decree. "Item 42 of the constitution says clearly that when he does not respect the high constitutional court decision, he is in an impeachment situation," Mr Bazoum said.
The BBC's Caspar Leighton in the capital Niamey says high treason carries the death sentence.
But he says Mr Bazoum does not want the former president to be executed.
Ruling by decree
Mr Tandja angered many by forcing through constitutional changes that would allow him to remain in power for an unlimited period.
NIGER Chronic povertyPopulation 14 million, 61% live on less than $1 a dayResource rich Huge reserves of uranium, Chinese firms digging for oilPolitically unstable History of coups, assassinations and on-off rebellion by nomadic Tuareg people in the north Source: World Bank Niger, where the army mattersNIGER Chronic povertyPopulation 14 million, 61% live on less than $1 a dayResource rich Huge reserves of uranium, Chinese firms digging for oilPolitically unstable History of coups, assassinations and on-off rebellion by nomadic Tuareg people in the north Source: World Bank Niger, where the army matters
The coup leaders, calling themselves the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy, have promised to turn Niger into a democracy.
In a radio broadcast on Monday evening, they said putsch leader Salou Djibo would act as both the head of state and government, ruling by decree.
He will have the power to appoint and sack the government and the prime minister, who is still to be named.He will have the power to appoint and sack the government and the prime minister, who is still to be named.
The soldiers said a new constitution would be put to the people in a referendum.The soldiers said a new constitution would be put to the people in a referendum.
But no timeline was given for the transition process and no election date has been set.But no timeline was given for the transition process and no election date has been set.
The junta says Mr Tandja is currently being held in the presidential palace, and the International Committee of the Red Cross is trying to visit him to check on the conditions of his detention.The junta says Mr Tandja is currently being held in the presidential palace, and the International Committee of the Red Cross is trying to visit him to check on the conditions of his detention.
Meanwhile, the military has reportedly used tanks to surround the house of Gen Moumouni Boureima, the former head of the army who refused to back last Thursday's coup.Meanwhile, the military has reportedly used tanks to surround the house of Gen Moumouni Boureima, the former head of the army who refused to back last Thursday's coup.
However, the BBC's Caspar Leighton in Niamey says the capital is calm.
There is an increased military presence around army bases and the presidency, but limited patrols and no checkpoints in the rest of Niamey, he says.
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.
But Mr Tandja's supporters argue that his decade in power has brought a measure of economic stability to the poor West African nation.But Mr Tandja's supporters argue that his decade in power has brought a measure of economic stability to the poor West African nation.
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.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.