Niger's coup leader makes first public appearance

Niger's troops who toppled the president, have established the so-called Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy and declared a new leader.

The supreme council is led by Salou Djibo, who made his first public appearance since the coup on Friday.

Salou Djibo is the leader of Niger's military junta. It seized power and captured President Mamadou Tandja on Thursday, in a hail of gunfire.

The group says it's dissolved the Tandja government, and replaced it with the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy. But it's made no mention of any timetable for elections.

Colonel Goukoye Abdul Karimou reads a statement signed by Salou Djibo in Niamey in this videograb dated February 18, 2010 after President Mamadou Tandja was ousted in a military coup. REUTERS/Reuters TV