Niger: thousands gather for rally to cheer generals who led coup

Supporters wave Niger and Russia flags as Ecowas deadline for military to cede power approaches

Thousands of coup supporters in Niger gathered on Sunday for a rally to cheer on the generals claiming power, as a deadline set by the west African bloc for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention was due to elapse.

The Ecowas bloc, chaired by regional military powerhouse and Niger's neighbour Nigeria, had given the troops that toppled President Mohamed Bazoum on 26 July a week to return him to power.