Thanx Ansu for sharing. We must join the people of Niger in celebrating their freedom and independence from Tandja. i encourage ECOWAS to take another look at her position to condemn all unconstitutional overthrows of governments particularly governments of despots and tyrants. It is apparent that ECOWAS herself is engaged when they perceive a despot or tyrant and that they do everything within their power to yield a non-violent negotiated settlement of constitutional disputes. WHere all their gallant efforts have failed, it should become clear to ECOWAS that the despot and tyrant has no incentive to engineer an equitable and an acceptable solution. Therefore, instead of risk violence spreading to ECOWAS member countries, she should be in the frontlines supporting, even urging forceful overthrows of these societal menaces. Besides, simply because ECOWAS abhors violence does not yield thepeople of Niger and Gambia any reprieve.
Thanx again Ansu for sharing. Haruna.
-----Original Message-----
From: Ansumana Bojang <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2010 4:01 pm
Subject: Reuters on the apparent Niger Coup
UPDATE 9-Niger president seized in military coup- sources
:21pm EST
* Military coup successful, president arrested - sources
* Gunfire around presidential palace kills three -sources
* U.S. says monitoring situation
REUTERS)
By Abdoulaye Massalatchi
NIAMEY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Mutinous troops led by an army major captured Niger's
resident Mamadou Tandja on Thursday after storming his palace in a four-hour
un battle that killed at least three soldiers, military sources said.
Political tensions had been high in the west African uranium exporter in recent
onths after Tandja changed the constitution to extend his rule last year, a
ove that drew widespread criticism at home and led to international sanctions.
"The coup leader has succeeded. It is being led by Major Adamou Harouna," one
igerien military source said. The president and the ministers were being held
ot far from the presidential palace in the capital Niamey, the sources added.
There was no official statement from the coup perpetrators but state radio
nterrupted normal programmes to broadcast military music by early evening.
Earlier in the day, plumes of smoke were seen rising from the palace amid heavy
unfire after soldiers in armoured vehicles attacked the building where Tandja
as holding a cabinet meeting.
Hospital sources said at least three soldiers were killed in the clashes.
arlier, a Reuters witness saw five injured soldiers at a hospital.
"Calm has returned and tanks have taken up positions close to the barracks,
here Tandja and members of his government were rumoured to be held," a Niamey
esident told Reuters.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said a soldier living next door had
old her not to worry as there would be no more resistance since the entire army
upported the coup.
Tandja drew criticism and sanctions after dissolving parliament and
rchestrating a constitutional reform in 2009 that gave him added powers and
xtended his term beyond his second five-year mandate, which expired in
ecember.
ENSIONS HIGH
Tandja justified the move, which removed most checks on his authority, abolished
erm limits, and gave him an initial three more years in power without an
lection, saying he needed extra time to complete large-scale investment
rojects.
In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the situation was
very fluid" in Niger and the United States was closely monitoring it.
"Clearly, we do not in any way, shape or form, you know, defend violence of this
ature, but clearly we think this underscores that Niger needs to move ahead and
ith the elections and the formation of a new government," he said.
West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS suspended Niger and the United States
erminated trade benefits, while former colonial power France also criticised
andja last year.
Earlier on Thursday, ECOWAS, which has for months been attempting to broker a
olution to the deadlock between Tandja and the opposition, said it would impose
urther sanctions on any group that took power unconstitutionally.
Despite the political turmoil, Niger has attracted billions of dollars in
nvestment from major international firms seeking to tap its vast mineral
ealth, including French nuclear plant builder Areva <CEPFi.PA> and Canada's
ameco <CCO.TO>.
Areva, which has been digging uranium in Niger for decades, is spending 1.2
illion euros ($1.79 billion) on a new mine, and China National Petroleum Corp
igned a $5 billion deal there last June.
One such firm said earlier the situation was "heating up" but it was unclear
hat the impact would be for their employees.
Tandja has faced a rebellion by northern Tuareg-led rebels, though analysts said
hey were unlikely to be involved.
(Additional reporting by Daniel Magnowski, David Lewis, George Fominyen, and
iadie Ba in Dakar, Kwasi Kpodo in Accra; Sophie Hardach and Yann Le Guernigou
n Paris; Writing by David Lewis and Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Elizabeth
ullerton)
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