Leader of rebels in Niger says country ready for war

Niger doesn't want war, but will defend itself if necessary, sad the head of the ruling National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland, General Abdurahman Tchiani, Report informs referring to Al Jazeera.

"Neither the army nor the people of Niger want war, but we will resist any manifestation of it," he said.

Tchiani noted that the states of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) do not understand that it is Niger that is an important key to containing the region from destabilization against the backdrop of terrorist activity.

Earlier members of the ECOWAS delegation, who arrived in Niamey, met with the dismissed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum. The meeting was attended, in particular, by the head of the delegation, the former President of Nigeria, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.