NIGER: Police break up protest against President Mamadou in Niamey

Record ID: 234762

  • Title: NIGER: Police break up protest against President Mamadou in Niamey
  • Date: 23rd August 2009
  • Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (AUGUST 22, 2009) (REUTERS) NIGERIEN POLICE BEATING UP AN OPPOSITION PROTESTER PEOPLE SHOUTING SECURITY FORCES IN CENTRE OF CITY POLICE AROUND A BURNING TYRE
  • Embargoed: 7th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Niger
  • Country: Niger
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6U3NG44UCIWCFTKAG1DA5WC0Z
  • Story Text: Police in Niger sprayed tear gas and used batons on Saturday to break up an illegal protest against President Mamadou Tandja's move to extend his term in office, arresting at least 10 people, witnesses said.
    The incident in the capital Niamey was the latest sign of small-scale unrest in the uranium-producing Saharan state since Tandja this month claimed victory in a disputed referendum that gave him three more years in office.
    The clashes came when a group of protesters defied a ban to assemble outside parliament. One of those arrested was Bazoum Mohamed, vice-president of the main opposition Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, witnesses said.
    Tandja has justified the term extension, which has earned him international criticism, by arguing that the Nigerien people wanted him to stay in power to oversee multi-billion-dollar oil, mining and infrastructure deals.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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