October 24, 2009 16:58 PM

Niger Pardons People Implicated In Armed Conflict

NIAMEY, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Nigerien President Mamadou Tandja on Friday signed an order of amnesty to all the people who were directly or indirectly involved in the armed conflict in the north of the West African country, according to a communique released by the government.

The amnesty concerns especially the ex-elements of the armed movements (sponsors, co-sponsors and accomplices) and the elements of defense and security forces of the period between 2005 and 2009, China's Xinhua news agency cited the communique as saying.

In a message addressed to the nation on the same day, Tandja insisted on the necessity of putting in place "appropriate mechanisms for accelerating the consolidation of this lasting peace which our country needs urgently."

Tandja said it appeared to him "essential that he pardons anyone who, in his opinion, deserves the amnesty just like all those who were directly or indirectly involved in the conflict."

The amnesty came when Tandja's ruling party MNSD won more than half of the 113 seats in the National Assembly.

Tandja has steadily consolidated his grip on power for the past months. On May, the president dissolved the National Assembly. Then he put a new constitution to a referendum held on Aug 4 and promulgated on Aug 18.

After having the constitution revised to extend his tenure which expires in December 2009, Tandja had the victory in Tuesday's legislative elections.

Tandja is also under increasing pressure from the opposition and sanctions from the European Union, which has put on halt its aid program, and from the Economic Community of West African States, which already suspended Niger following the vote.

National security and reconciliation seem a paramount need for the 71-year-old president, after his bid to continue rule cost him both at home and abroad.

-- BERNAMA

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