Niger attempted coup: Russia says it helped to repel attack - BBC News

Soldiers tried to attack a key military base early on Saturday morning, authorities say, but were thwarted.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, A security officer stands guard on the street following the attempted coup

Russia has said its forces helped to repel Saturday's attempted coup in Niger.

Explosions and gunfire rang out across capital, Niamey, early in the morning, including at a key military airbase and the presidential palace.

Hours later, Niger's authorities said the rebellion had been contained.

Nigerien forces had repelled the attack "with the assistance of servicemen of the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defence", the foreign ministry in Moscow said on Sunday.