President of Niger assassinated in Niamey

The President of Niger in West Africa has been killed in a coup d'etat. Tanks are reported to be on the streets of Niamey, the capital of the country and almost all communications systems are down. Witnesses said the President was ambushed by soldiers at Niamey airport as he was seeking to travel out of the capital.

Tension has been mounting in Niger since the local elections in February which the opposition claim were rigged. Mainassara himself seized power after a coup in January 1996 and was elected head of state later that year in a poll challenged by opposition parties.