Deadly protests rock Niger over contested election result

·2 min read
  • FILE PHOTO: Video grab of riot policemen detaining protesters in Niamey, Niger
  • FILE PHOTO: Video grab of riot policemen driving towards protesters at a makeshift checkpoint in Niamey, Niger
  • FILE PHOTO: Niger ruling party's Bazoum declared winner of presidential election
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Deadly protests rock Niger over contested election result

FILE PHOTO: Video grab of riot policemen detaining protesters in Niamey, Niger

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Supporters of the losing presidential candidate in Niger set several buildings on fire, burnt tyres and threw rocks at the police on Thursday, as the authorities announced that two people had been killed in post-election protests this week.

The national electoral commission on Tuesday declared ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum the winner of Sunday's runoff election with 55.75% of the vote, but his rival, Mahamane Ousmane, a former president, has alleged fraud and claimed he won with 50.3%.

Since then, two people have been killed and 468 detained during protests by Ousmane's supporters in the capital Niamey, Interior Minister Alkache Alhada said.

"They want to wreak havoc," Alhada said at a news conference, blaming opposition leader Hama Amadou for the violence.

There was no immediate response from Amadou, who finished runner-up in the 2016 election. He was barred from running this time because of a criminal conviction and threw his support behind Ousmane.

The election is meant to lead to the first transition from one democratically elected leader to another following four coups since independence from France in 1960. President Mahamadou Issoufou is stepping down after two five-year terms.

On Thursday, small groups of Ousmane supporters took to the streets again to lob rocks at police and national guard troops, who responded by firing tear gas. Internet access has also been severely limited since Wednesday.

Some protesters set private houses on fire, including that of Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent Moussa Kaka, a Reuters witness said. RFI said in a statement that Kaka and his family were safe.

Ousmane, who served as president from 1993 until 1996, when he was overthrown by the military, said on Wednesday that he reserved the right to appeal the election result.

An observer mission from the Economic Community of West African States said the vote was held "under free, fair, credible and transparent conditions".

However, it was marred by two attacks that killed eight election workers in parts of Niger where Islamist militants regularly target civilians and the military.

(Reporting by Boureima Balima; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Gareth Jones and Frances Kerry)

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    Paris Saint-Germain coach Mauricio Pochettino on Wednesday rejected the favourites tag slapped on his star-studded squad after eliminating holders Bayern Munich from the Champions League. PSG, holding a 3-2 advantage from the first leg in Munich, lost the return match on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes 1-0.But with the aggregate score 3-3, they advanced to the semis for the second consecutive year because they scored more goals in the away match."I don't think we can be classed as favourites,” said Pochettino who took over as PSG boss from Thomas Tuchel in January.“We eliminated Barcelona in the last 16 in two matches. And now, in two matches we've eliminated Bayern Munich."I think we deserved both the wins. But that does not mean we will win the Champions League. Chelsea have qualified. And we will see who qualifies between Manchester City and Dortmund as well as between Liverpool and Real Madrid.“I think whichever of the teams that move on to the semi-finals will have the same chances of winning." PSG will take on whoever emerges from the City and Dortmund tie on Wednesday night. Dortmund host Pep Guardiola’s men who won the first leg 2-1 at the Etihad.“I think we played a very good game seven days ago against City,” said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic.“And I think we showed that we can be a top team and that we can make them suffer a bit. "We know we need a win. We have to score a goal for that so it won't be enough to focus exclusively on defence. We also have to attack."Dortmund will be without the England international striker Jadon Sancho who is returning from the ankle injury that has kept him on the sidelines since early March. Marco Reus and Matt Hummels are also doubts for the game.“It will be an amazingly difficult task, that is for sure,” added Terzic. “Belief is big, but belief alone will not be enough, we need hard work and courage. That is what can make the difference."ProgressCity go into the clash at the Signal Iduna Park on the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at home to Leeds United in the Premier League. The loss is unlikely to derail their procession to the third Premier League title during Guardiola’s five-year reign.The Spaniard though has been unable to replicate similar success in Europe. City have not moved past the quarter-final stage of European club football's most prestigious tournament during Guardiola’s tenure."Our idea is to go and let Dortmund feel that we are not going to defend what we got in Manchester. We want to impose our game to win the game," said Guardiola."The players were sad when we didn't get to the semi-finals last season But nobody will give it to us, we have to do it.”