Niger closes airspace as it refuses to reinstate President

French military plane at Niamey's Diori-Hamani airport in Niger. Coup leaders announced Sunday that they are closing the country's airspace. [AFP]

Niger closed its airspace on Sunday until further notice, citing the threat of military intervention from the West African regional bloc after coup leaders rejected a deadline to reinstate the country's ousted president.

Earlier, thousands of junta supporters flocked to a stadium in Niamey, the capital, cheering the decision not to cave in to external pressure to stand down by Sunday following the July 26 power grab.