The demonstration came 72 hours after a meeting organized on Saturday by the Niger's umbrella opposition group the Coordination of Forces for Democracy and the Republic (CFDR).
According to the coordinator of CMDPN, Mr. Nouhou Mahamadou Arzika, the motive behind the radical reform being carried out by President Tandja is to reassure the people, restore the credibility of the State, promote good governance, re-establish equity and justice and fight corruption and illicit enrichment.
"These are crucial reforms dictated by the circumstances in order to ensure Niger's emergence into a democratic and republican framework that could guarantee individual and collective well-being," he said, criticizing the way the former gove r nment disregarded ethical values in its administration.
This series of demonstrations has increased the social and political tension in the country since the 4 August, 2009 controversial referendum which allowed President Tandja to extend his stay in power.
Reliable sources report that Tahoua, a town some 600 kilometres west of the country, had been the scene of clashes between police and CFDR party members who organized a counter-demonstration, despite a ban issued by the governor of the region.
According to a CFDR party official in the region, opposition party members have been dispersed with clubs and tear gas, chased and hunted down right into their houses and taken away for questioning by police.
These demonstrations, which are a show of force by the main players in the crisis, are taking place at the time when the mediator of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), former Nigerian President Abdoussalamni Aboubakar, is in Niamey to agree conditions for the beginning of dialogue among those involved in the conflict.
Meanwhile, the main bone of contention delaying the beginning of the dialogue is the choice of the venue, for while Tandja's supporters want the talks held in Niamey the CFDR wants them held outside Niger for security reasons to allow some of its members who are in exile to participate.
Niamey - Pana 15/12/2009
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