Pressure mounts on Niger coup leaders as ECOWAS deadline nears

Men hold Niger and Russian flags as they gather with thousands of anti-sanctions protesters in support of the putschist soldiers in the capital Niamey, Niger, Aug 3, 2023. [Reuters]

Pressure on Niger's coup leaders mounted Saturday, the eve of a deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS for the military to relinquish control or face possible armed intervention.

Former colonial power France, with which the junta broke military ties after taking power on July 26, said it would firmly back whatever course of action ECOWAS took after the Sunday deadline expired.