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West African leaders scheduled a summit for Thursday to discuss the Niger junta's rejection of an ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president, as the United States sent a top official to Niamey to push for a return to democracy.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had told leaders of the July 26 coup to stand down by Sunday or face a possible military intervention.
But the junta, under self-declared head of state General Abdourahamane Tchiani, former commander of Niger's presidential guard, instead closed the airspace and pledged to defend the country.
The bloc has not directly responded but said on Monday it would hold the Thursday summit to discuss the standoff, a decision the European Union and United States said allowed more time for mediation.
U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland flew to Niger's capital Niamey on Monday for "frank and difficult" talks with senior junta officials, who rebuffed calls for a return to democratic order.
"They are quite firm in their view of how they want to proceed, and it does not comport with the Constitution of Niger," she told reporters late on Monday by phone before leaving Niamey.
"It was difficult today and I will be straight up about that."
Coup leaders in Niamey have struck a defiant tone, repeatedly affirming their resolution to stand firm and fight if necessary. The junta has cited persistent insecurity as its main justification for seizing power, but data on attacks shows security had actually been improving.
In a further sign of its will to remain in power, the junta on Monday named former Finance Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine as the new prime minister.
Coup leaders have also called on young Nigeriens to be ready to defend the country - a rallying call that several students at the capital's Abdou Moumouni University said on Monday they would heed.
"No sacrifice is too much ... for our country. We are ready to give our lives," said economics masters student Soumaila Hamadou on the rain-drenched campus.
（Reuters）
