Thousands turn out for pro-junta rally in Niger

NIAMEY, Saturday

Thousands of people rallied in Niger’s capital Niamey today in support of their new military rulers after a coup ousted the strongman of the uranium-rich nation, Mamadou Tandja.

A crowd of around 10,000 massed outside the parliament building in downtown Niamey following an appeal by an opposition coalition, the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic.

“This is a demonstration in support of the coup, we are celebrating the overthrow of the Tandja dictatorship,” former lawmaker Soumana Sanda said. The alliance groups opposition parties, human rights organisations and trade unions that had in recent months fiercely opposed Tandja’s move to stay in power after his mandate expired.

“The sixth republic is dead, it came through the back door and has gone out in shame,” Mohamed Bazoum, vice president of the Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism told the rally. “We came to thank the Supreme Council, we wish it the best,” he said, referring to the junta.

One of the military leaders, Harouna Djibrilla Adamou, flanked by several other members of the junta, told the rally: “We thank you for your overwhelming support”.

“What we did was in the best interest of Niger... we ask you to stay calm, we’re here for you, we’re listening and we assure you that we will never let you down,” he said.

The opposition alliance handed Adamou a letter calling for a new agreed constitution and the organisation of free and transparent general elections.

On Friday thousands had spontaneously taken to the streets to celebrate the coup, despite condemnation from the United Nations and regional groupings, some of which have suspended the west African country from their ranks.

Soldiers stormed the presidential palace as the 71-year-old Tandja chaired a cabinet meeting on Thursday. They seized the president, took him to a military camp and detained his ministers. (AFP)