Niger crisis deepens as France plans to evacuate following coup

Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader General Abdourahmane Tchiani (Sam Mednick/AP)

France announced a planned evacuation from Niger on Tuesday after a military coup there won backing from two other West African nations ruled by mutinous soldiers.

The French Foreign Ministry in Paris cited recent violence that targeted the French Embassy in Niamey, the capital, as one of the reasons for the decision.