Adam
08-05-02, 12:04 PM
Niger coup put down
From AP's Dalatou Mamane
August 06, 2002
NIAMEY, Niger: Presidential guards put down a military uprising in Niger's capital yesterday, Prime Minister Hama Amadou said, bringing Niamey under government control after hours of early-morning heavy weapons fire was heard in the city.
Members of three army garrisons had marched, shooting, on the home of President Tandja Mamadou, the prime minister told radio stations in the Sahara Desert nation.
Weapons fire sounded for more than two hours early yesterday, ending before dawn. There was no immediate word on casualties in the capital.
Soldiers in the remote eastern parts of the country revolted a week ago, demanding the government pay months of unpaid salaries.
The government said on Sunday it had retaken the eastern garrison city of Diffa, where the uprising began. Heavily armed mutineers were reported still in control of two other military posts, at N'guigmi and N'gourti.
The uprising marks the most serious threat to civilian rule since Mamadou won democratic elections in 1999.
Mamadou took power from Colonel Daouda Malam Wanke, who briefly led the country following the assassination the same year of former President Ibrahim Mainassara Bare.
Niger has weathered two coups in the last decade and a five-year insurgency by Tuareg nomads that ended in 1995.
The Courier-Mail
Source. (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4845364%255E401,00.html)
From AP's Dalatou Mamane
August 06, 2002
NIAMEY, Niger: Presidential guards put down a military uprising in Niger's capital yesterday, Prime Minister Hama Amadou said, bringing Niamey under government control after hours of early-morning heavy weapons fire was heard in the city.
Members of three army garrisons had marched, shooting, on the home of President Tandja Mamadou, the prime minister told radio stations in the Sahara Desert nation.
Weapons fire sounded for more than two hours early yesterday, ending before dawn. There was no immediate word on casualties in the capital.
Soldiers in the remote eastern parts of the country revolted a week ago, demanding the government pay months of unpaid salaries.
The government said on Sunday it had retaken the eastern garrison city of Diffa, where the uprising began. Heavily armed mutineers were reported still in control of two other military posts, at N'guigmi and N'gourti.
The uprising marks the most serious threat to civilian rule since Mamadou won democratic elections in 1999.
Mamadou took power from Colonel Daouda Malam Wanke, who briefly led the country following the assassination the same year of former President Ibrahim Mainassara Bare.
Niger has weathered two coups in the last decade and a five-year insurgency by Tuareg nomads that ended in 1995.
The Courier-Mail
Source. (http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,4845364%255E401,00.html)