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Nigerien military junta appoint transitional government

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The Nigerien military junta leadership has formed a new transitional government following the February 18 military coup that overthrew President Mamadou Tandja, BBC said on Tuesday.

The Nigerien military junta leadership has formed a new transitional government following the February 18 military coup that overthrew President Mamadou Tandja, BBC said on Tuesday.

The government reportedly consists of 20 ministers, including five soldiers and five women. BBC quoted Nigerien state radio reports as saying three generals close to the ousted president were appointed defense, sports and environment ministers.

Senior army official Col. Salou Djibo, named head of the military junta government, was quoted by BBC as saying elections would be held in Niger after a transitional period of an unspecified duration.

On February 18, the military launched an assault on the presidential palace in Niamey, where the government was meeting. Tandja was captured and the constitution suspended. Niger's air and land borders were closed.

Last week, Mahamadou Danda, who held the post of political counselor at Niger's Embassy to Canada when Tandja was overthrown, was appointed interim prime minister.

Niger has been in a major political crisis since August 2009, when Tandja amended the constitution to allow him to remain in office indefinitely.

In October 2009, parliamentary elections were held in Niger despite protests by the country's opposition and the international community. Tandja's ruling party, the National Movement for a Developing Society, won the elections.

The international community, including the European Union, the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has condemned the coup. The African Union suspended Niger's membership in the bloc.

MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti)

 

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