Niger coup: US offers ‘unflagging’ support to ousted leader as sanctions threatened

UN, US and France all call for a return to order after Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani declares himself the new head of state

The United States will work to ensure full restoration of constitutional order in Niger after the military takeover, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, in a phone call late on Friday, offering him his unflagging support".

The US is communicating with a broad array" military leader in Niger, the state department said, after coup leaders declared Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani - the Nigerien military leader behind the detention of the country's democratically elected president - the new head of state.