Mohamed Bazoum

The African Union said Tuesday it had suspended Niger until civilian rule in the country is restored.

Niger's military regime vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted president Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

There are some 90 Italians in the capital, it said, out of a total of just under 500 Italian nationals in Niger, most of whom are military. There were no immediate other details, including the time of the flight and size of aircraft.

France will "very soon" start to evacuate its nationals from Niger, where a coup last week has unleashed anti-French protests, Paris's embassy in Niamey said Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered Niger's ousted leader Mohamed Bazoum Washington's steadfast support, and warned those detaining him that "hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance" was at risk, the State Department said Friday.

Soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger's government following an apparent coup in the West African nation on Wednesday when members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

Soldiers claimed Wednesday to have overthrown the government of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement read out on national television, after a day in which the leader was detained in his official residence.

An attempted coup was under way Wednesday in the fragile state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army, sources said.

The African Union said Tuesday it had suspended Niger until civilian rule in the country is restored.

Niger's military regime vowed late Sunday to prosecute ousted president Mohamed Bazoum for "high treason" and slammed West African leaders for imposing sanctions on the country.

There are some 90 Italians in the capital, it said, out of a total of just under 500 Italian nationals in Niger, most of whom are military. There were no immediate other details, including the time of the flight and size of aircraft.

France will "very soon" start to evacuate its nationals from Niger, where a coup last week has unleashed anti-French protests, Paris's embassy in Niamey said Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered Niger's ousted leader Mohamed Bazoum Washington's steadfast support, and warned those detaining him that "hundreds of millions of dollars of assistance" was at risk, the State Department said Friday.

Soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger's government following an apparent coup in the West African nation on Wednesday when members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

Soldiers claimed Wednesday to have overthrown the government of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement read out on national television, after a day in which the leader was detained in his official residence.

An attempted coup was under way Wednesday in the fragile state of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army, sources said.