NIAMEY - Niger's military rulers closed the country's land and air borders and declared a night-time curfew on Friday after deposing President Mamadou Tandja in a coup, a member of the junta said. Niger's army suspended the constitution and dissolved government institutions on Thursday after overthrowing Tandja, who had ruled the West African nation since 1999. Four soldiers died in the coup, the junta official said, without providing further details. Niger is the world's sixth-biggest producer of uranium, after Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Namibia, according to the Luxembourg-based Euratom Supply Agency. The military junta, which toppled President Mamadou Tandja and seized power, yesterday named squadron chief Salou Djibas the country's new leader. A statement by the military also said for the time being, government business would be handled by heads of ministries. A top African Union (AU) official yesterday denounced the military coup in Niger and called for a quick return of "constitutional order", saying the organisation was ready to help facilitate the process. Jean Ping, the chairman of the 53-nation body, said he was following developments in the nation with "concern" after a Niger military official announced that the constitution has been suspended. In addition to the suspension, President Mamadou Tandja is said to be detained in a military camp. "The chairperson of the commission stresses that the relevant AU instruments systematically condemn any unconstitutional change and, accordingly, he condemns the seizure of power by force that took place in Niger," said a statement from Ping's office. Markets, banks and schools in Niger's capital opened as usual yesterday. The head of the military junta called for calm and said the work of government ministers and regional governors ousted in the coup was being done by their secretary generals.
