Joint mission to assess post-coup situation in Niger: UN

DAKAR: A joint mission from the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community of West African States will visit Niger on Sunday to assess the situation after a military coup, a senior UN official said.

"A joint UN-AU-ECOWAS mission will leave for Niger and arrives tomorrow (Sunday) morning," Said Djinnit, representative of the UN secretary general in West Africa, told AFP on Saturday.

"They will make contact with the military authorities, the political community, to see the evolution of the situation and see how they can support efforts for a return to constitutional order within the shortest possible time."

The junta which wrested control of Niger in a coup d'etat on Thursday plans to organise elections, one of its leaders said, but did not give a date.

Soldiers stormed Niger's presidential palace on Thursday as the 71-year-old strongman Mamadou Tandja chaired a cabinet meeting and toppled him and his government.

Tandja had changed the constitution last year to hold on to his post beyond a 10-year-limit, tightening his grip on power in a move that infuriated democratic forces and widened the chasm between him and the opposition.