Niger junta under mounting pressure to organise polls

Niger's new military leaders came under mounting pressure yesterday to hold credible elections as thousands rallied in support of the coup that ousted the strongman of the uranium-rich nation.

The opposition called for polls as they threw their weight behind the military ouster of president Mamadou Tandja two days ago.

Supporters crammed into buses, cars, took lifts on motorbikes or simply walked to gather in front of parliament for a demonstration called by the Coordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic opposition alliance.

"We urge the soldiers to be fair and organise free and democratic elections and then withdraw," Doudou Rahama, an aide to the head of the dissolved parliament told the 10,000-strong crowd.

Captain Harouna Djibrilla Adamou, one of the junta leaders, vowed never to "let down" the people.

"What we did was in the best interest of Niger... we ask you to stay calm, we're here for you, we're listening and we assure you that we will never let you down," he told the rally.

"The Sixth Republic is dead, it came through the back door and has gone out in shame," Mohamed Bazoum, vice-president of the Niger Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) said.

"We came to thank the Supreme Council, we wish it the best," he said, referring to the junta.

The alliance behind yesterday's rally groups opposition parties, human rights organisations and trade unions that had in recent months fiercely opposed Tandja's refusal to step down after his mandate expired in December.

Many people were seen shaking the hands of soldiers guarding the rally venue.

The 15-nation Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) also pressed for credible elections during a meeting with the leader of the military junta.

"We want a transition... to be driven by credible, transparent elections open to all," the bloc's outgoing president Mohammed Ibn Chambas said after the talks late on Friday.

In a letter handed to the junta leaders at a pro-coup rally, the leading opposition coalition urged the military to return the country to civilian rule through elections.

The CFDR said it was "ready to contribute to a successful democratic transition," which should include the "adoption of a new constitution by consensus and the organisation of free and transparent elections".

A member of the junta told AFP he met several west African heads of state in Mali yesterday to explain the position of the coup leaders, adding that they "understood".