West Africa military chiefs meet over Niger coup

ABUJA, Nigeria

Military chiefs from West Africa's regional bloc, Ecowas, are meeting later on Wednesday in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to discuss the military coup that took place in Niger last week.

The bloc previously warned it was giving Niger's new rulers a week to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum before it considered the use of force.

Earlier, the junta cautioned it would resist any “plan of aggression against Niger” by Western or regional powers.

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A statement issued after the Sunday summit in Nigeria said that ECOWAS had “zero tolerance” for coups.

The regional bloc said it would “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands weren’t met within seven days.

“Such measures may include the use of force,” and military chiefs are to meet “immediately” to plan for an intervention, the statement added.

Overnight, the first of three French planes sent to evacuate European citizens arrived back in Paris with more than 250 people on board.

The evacuation comes after demonstrators attacked the French embassy on Sunday. Italy has also flown out dozens of its own nationals as well as other Europeans, and American citizens.

The military government has announced the re-opening of Niger's borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali and Chad. However, the land border with Nigeria remains closed.