Niger's Military Pledges Neutrality, Calls For Dialogue
NIAMEY, Niger (AFP)--The military in Niger has pledged its neutrality in the
country's political crisis as it urged the protagonists to work for calm in a
spirit of dialogue.
"Mindful of national unity, the defense forces do not serve partisan
interests. Duty bound to be neutral and reserved, the armed forces cannot as
such be associated with any political debate, or be involved in destabilizing
actions," said a statement read on state radio by army spokesman Colonel Goukoye
Abdoulkarim.
The military said the country's political players should leave them out of
politics and instead focus on dialogue among themselves to "calm the situation."
Despite a history of coups, the Niger army has adopted a nonpartisan attitude
in the face of the ongoing political and legal tug-of-war between President
Mamadou Tandja and the opposition.
Tandja, a 71-year-old retired army colonel whose legal tenure ends in
December, is fighting to cling on to power through a constitutional change.
The country's highest court has three times ruled against his plans to change
the laws to let him seek a third term in office.
But Monday night he dissolved the court, days after he assumed emergency
powers to allow him to rule by decree claiming the independence of the arid and
landlocked west African nation was under threat.
An opposition alliance, the Front for the Defense of Democracy, has condemned
Tandja's actions as a "coup d'etat."
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
06-30-091020ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
|