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| Niger troops vote on third term | Niger troops vote on third term |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Niger's military is set to vote in a referendum on President Mamadou Tandja's bid to serve a third term. | Niger's military is set to vote in a referendum on President Mamadou Tandja's bid to serve a third term. |
| The government says the soldiers are voting early so they can ensure the safety of the rest of the people, who will go to the polls on Tuesday. | The government says the soldiers are voting early so they can ensure the safety of the rest of the people, who will go to the polls on Tuesday. |
| Earlier, opposition groups reiterated they would boycott the vote, which they have described a coup d'etat. | Earlier, opposition groups reiterated they would boycott the vote, which they have described a coup d'etat. |
| Mr Tandja has recently dissolved parliament and the constitutional court to push through his referendum plan. | Mr Tandja has recently dissolved parliament and the constitutional court to push through his referendum plan. |
| He says the people of Niger want him to stay in power, and his actions reflect their will. | He says the people of Niger want him to stay in power, and his actions reflect their will. |
| But his efforts have caused widespread protests in Niger and sparked international condemnation. | But his efforts have caused widespread protests in Niger and sparked international condemnation. |
| 'Illegal referendum' | 'Illegal referendum' |
| Reports from the country said huge posters of Mr Tandja were plastered throughout the capital, Niamey, and other main cities. | Reports from the country said huge posters of Mr Tandja were plastered throughout the capital, Niamey, and other main cities. |
| Mr Tandja's backers say he has reduced poverty | Mr Tandja's backers say he has reduced poverty |
| State media has been calling on voters to say "yes" to changing the constitution so the 71-year-old president can stay in office. | State media has been calling on voters to say "yes" to changing the constitution so the 71-year-old president can stay in office. |
| The move would allow him an initial three-year term, and then he would be able to run for re-election with no term limits. | The move would allow him an initial three-year term, and then he would be able to run for re-election with no term limits. |
| The AFP news agency reported that opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou launched a final appeal on Sunday for "mobilisation to cause the illegal referendum to fail". | The AFP news agency reported that opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou launched a final appeal on Sunday for "mobilisation to cause the illegal referendum to fail". |
| Speaking for the blanket group Co-ordination of Democratic Forces for the Republic (CFDR), he said: "Our duty as citizens is to defend the current constitution." | |
| Mr Tandja was first elected in 1999, and then again five years later. | Mr Tandja was first elected in 1999, and then again five years later. |
| He had previously promised to quit in December this year, a month after presidential elections are due to be held. | He had previously promised to quit in December this year, a month after presidential elections are due to be held. |
| But the president's supporters argue he should be allowed a third term, saying he has improved living standards in one of the world's poorest countries in the country in the 10 years he has been in power. | But the president's supporters argue he should be allowed a third term, saying he has improved living standards in one of the world's poorest countries in the country in the 10 years he has been in power. |