NIGER: Former premier urges "pragmatic" approach on coup

ABIDJAN, 14 April 1999 (IRIN) - Niger's former premier and one of the country's most prominent politicians, Hama Amadou, has urged the public to give the new military leadership a chance to meet its pledge to return the country to democratic rule after a nine-month transition period. Major Daouda Mallam Wanke, the army leader, made the pledge after he assumed power at the weekend following the assassination last Friday of President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara who was shot by the presidential guard Wanke commanded. Analysts said Amadou's remarks explained why opposition parties had said they would cooperate with Wanke's new National Reconciliation Council (NRC). In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Amadou said: "At the moment, the intentions they (the army) are expressing are good. I think it is our duty to give the restoration of democracy a chance." Amadou, who was briefly detained last year for an alleged coup plot against Mainassara, added: "I think we should take the new authorities at their word and try to support them to move along the lines of the good intentions they have expressed rather than be sceptical and hold up the process through a refusal to assist the country, which could lead these authorities to change course."