A coup attempt appears to be under way in Niger.
Soldiers have forced their way into the presidential palace
and taken the head of state Mamadou Tandja
to a military barracks.
Johnny Hawk reports.
Latest information says President Tandja
has now been separated from his ministers
and taken to an unknown military camp.
French diplomats have confirmed
that he's indeed in the hands
of a mutant faction of the army
after soldiers stormed the presidential offices
where cabinet meeting was under way.
The heavy exchanges of fire
which broke out on Thursday afternoon
have left at least 3 people dead and 10 injured.
Exactly which part of the military carried out
the operation remains unclear.
Niger has been rocked by months
of political crisis after the president changed
the constitution to remain in power.