Niger's junta deputy leader arrested

[News_Editor]

Niger's junta deputy leader arrested

2010-10-14 21:12:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

NIAMEY, NIGER (BNO NEWS) -- Niger's junta deputy leader who took power in February has been arrested, and is currently in custody at a military headquarters in Niamey, local media reported Thursday.

Colonel Abdoulaye Badie was arrested on Wednesday and is being interrogated, although details of his arrest have not been made public.

Badie was permanent secretary to the junta under General Salou Djibo, leader of the coup which overthrew Niger's president Mamadou Tandja in February. He also served as chief military quartermaster.

Djibo - who promised to return the country to civilian rule before next February - issued a decree abolishing the post of secretary on Sunday but left Badie as a member of the ruling junta.

Le Canard Dechaine - an independent weekly - on Monday suggested that the suppression of Badie's post could be linked to "crazy reports about an attempted coup d'etat" in preparation.

The military presence in Niamey and its suburbs has had a significant increase this week, having larger patrols, particularly at night.

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