Soldiers launch coup against Niger president

Message-Id: <20100218213009.4242330706B3@node2.byetcluster.com> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:30:09 -0500 (EST) From: root@admin2.byetcluster.com (root) NIAMEY: Soldiers unsealed fire weekday in the river capital, where explosions and long bursts of gunfire resounded crossways the municipality in what a crowning land authorised said was a takeover endeavor against President Mamadou Tandja. Witnesses said the firing appeared to be centred on the presidency of the West individual nation, digit of the world''s crowning uranium producers. State radio stayed silent on events, concentrating on playing traditional music as tensions erupted. It was not immediately famous where Tandja was though a cabinet gathering had been declared for Thursday. Tandja normally takes calculate of the meetings. Army helicopters hovered over the presidency during the afternoon. Tandja, 71, has spent more than a decennium in power, having extended his constituent finished a disputable referendum last August after liquefaction parliament and the constitutional court. river has since been isolated on the international stage. Witnesses said they saw the bodies of at small threesome soldiers existence lifted discover of a badly-damaged armoured container which pulled up outside the morgue of the important hospital. One said he had seen a rocket striking the vehicle. France, the former colonial power, urged its nationals in the country to stay indoors. "We heard automatic gunfire and then super detonations. The concern was shaking. It lasted about a half hour, non-stop," said Claire Deschamps, digit land national living in Niamey. She said the violence began around 1200 GMT. "There is a takeover attempt" going on, a grownup land authorised told AFP, speaking on information of anonymity. "All I crapper say is that it would materialize that Tandja is not in a good position," he said. Another attestator said shooting had busted discover around the statesmanly palace. "The shots were directed at the president''s office," said the witness, speaking from his workplace situated oppositeness the complex.
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