Niger junta warn they would kill deposed president after military intervention

West African heads of state have begun meeting on next steps to take after Niger’s military junta defied their deadline to reinstate the deposed president (Sam Mednick/AP)

Niger’s junta told a top US diplomat that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, two Western officials told The Associated Press.

Representatives of the junta told US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland of the threat to Mr Bazoum during her visit to the country this week, a Western military official said.