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Former Niger President Mamadou Tandja Dies At Age 82

VOA News

   The West African nation of Niger is observing three days of
   nationalmourningfollowing the deathof former President
   MamadouTandjaatthe age of 82.

   The government saidTuesdayTandjadied inthe capital,Niamey,but no cause
   of death was given.

   Tandjawas twice electedpresidentofNiger starting1999 to 2010 before he
   was overthrownin acoupforattempting tochange theconstitutiontohold onto
   power.

   Tandja'souster paved the way forIssoufou Mahamadouto becomepresident
   inthe 2011 election. Tandja'sdeath came just over a month before
   Niger'spresidential election.

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