French troops start to withdraw from Niger after coup as extremist attacks rise

Supporters of Niger’s ruling junta demonstrated in the capital Niamey following the coup in July (Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou/AP)

French troops have started leaving Niger more than two months after mutinous soldiers toppled the African country’s democratically elected president, the military has said.

The French did not specify how many troops were departing or where they were headed.