Mamadou Tandja captured alive in Niger!

Niger’s president has been overthrown in a military coup after soldiers stormed the presidential palace yesterday. The national constitution has been suspended and all state institutions dissolved. President Mamadou Tandja and a number of ministers were captured and at least three people were killed in the four-hour gun battle, according to reports. In a televised announcement a spokesman for the coup leaders identified the group as the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD). Today CSRD announced Salou Djibo as its leader and said civil servants would run ministries and regions until a new government was formed. A dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed, but local reports indicate the capital Niamey was calm today. Tandja changed the constitution last August to stay in power beyond his legal term limit.