Thousands of people gather in Niamey, the capital of Niger, to call on France to withdraw its troops from the country, as requested by the military who took power in the country at the end of July. The demonstration took place near a base housing French soldiers, at the request of several civil organisations hostile to the French military presence in this West African country. Participants brandished banners urging France to "get the hell out" of Niger. The rally comes a day after the country's military regime launched a new verbal attack on France, accusing Paris of "blatant interference" in its support for the country's deposed president. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES