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Niger Confirms Coup Attempt

22 October 2010 17:39 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Nigerâ€™s military government has confirmed it put down an attempted coup earlier this month, APA reports quoting â€œThe Voice of Americaâ€.

A spokesman for the military junta says the army has taken four senior officers into custody and is charging them with trying to overthrow the state. In comments late Thursday, he also said the situation is under control.

Last week, Niger security sources said a former deputy leader of the government and another top commander had been detained on allegations of trying to overthrow the military government. The junta has been in power since February, following the ouster of President Mamadou Tandja.

The countryâ€™s top military leader, General Salou Djibo has promised to return the country to civilian rule, starting with a constitutional referendum scheduled for October 31. The government spokesman says the four officers who were arrested opposed the referendum.

The voting at the end of this month will be followed by a series of national and local elections in January. Military leaders say they expect the country to have a newly-elected president by early April.