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Niger Residents Rally in Support of Coup

   VOA News 20 February 2010
   Supporters  of  a  military  coup demonstrate in front of the National
   Assembly in Niamey, 20 Feb 2010

Photo: AP

   Supporters  of  a  military  coup demonstrate in front of the National
   Assembly in Niamey, 20 Feb 2010

   Hundreds,  if  not  thousands,  of  people  in Niger have taken to the
   streets  of  the  capital,  Niamey,  in support of the military, which
   seized power in a coup this week.
   Demonstrators  also  were  out  on  the  streets Friday, showing their
   support for the coup that ousted the increasingly unpopular president,
   Mamadou Tandja.
   These demonstrations of support come as condemnations pour in from the
   international community.
   On  Friday, the African Union suspended Niger and demanded a return to
   constitutional order.
   The European Union, and Niger's former colonial ruler, France, as well
   as  the United Nations and South Africa have all called on the army to
   restore constitutional order.
   A  U.S.  State  Department spokesman said the U.S. hopes the army will
   move to a transitional government that will lead to elections.
   The junta has pledged to turn Niger into a beacon of democracy.
   In  his  first  public appearance Friday, Niger's new military leader,
   Salou   Djibo,   promised   to  set  up  a  consultative  council  for
   decision-making.
   After  initially  dissolving  the entire government, the military said
   government  business  will  be  handled by heads of ministries for the
   time being.
   President  Tandja  had grown increasingly unpopular since changing the
   constitution to extend his rule in office.
   When  Niger's  parliament and constitutional court said the referendum
   was illegal, President Tandja dismissed both and ruled by decree.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

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