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A “Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD)” took power on Thursday after fighting that left at least three dead, after months of political crisis.

The Military Council controlled the capital Niamey on Friday in an atmosphere of tranquility, having left presage a return to democracy.

The situation in Niger is “under control” and “no dissent” , told reporters, including AFP, the council spokesman, Colonel Goukoye Abdoulkarim, who announced the lifting of the curfew and the reopening of land and air borders.

He said ministers also detainees would be released “very soon”.

President “Mamadou Tandja is retained in yo1000ur office (…) Fine. Could you see your doctor, your state health is good and normal, “said the other side to an AFP officer in the headquarters of the board, in the southwest of Niamey.

The board announced late Thursday its decision to “suspend the constitution of the Sixth Republic”, established last year by Tandja to stay in office at all costs.

After ten years in power, Tandja, 71 years in 2009 dissolved the Parliament and the Constitutional Court and won the controversial extension of its mandate for at least another three years in a referendum held in August.

This attitude drew criticism from EU and U.S.. Washington also believes that the action of the deposed president could provoke a coup.

Niger, one of the world”s poorest countries despite being the third largest producer of uranium, is experiencing a serious political crisis since President decided to prolong his mandate.

Since Friday, the party of ousted president acknowledged the seizure of power by the junta, while other political leaders hoped that the overthrow Tandja of democratization would lead quickly after a serious political crisis in 2009.

“We expect the military to be fair, and that the conditions for a democratic transition to be so,” Sabo said Ali , vice president of the Movement for Development Society, a private radio.

coup nonetheless generated a wave of international condemnation.

From Ethiopia , the chairman of the African Union Commission (AU), Jean Ping, condemned the military action of the Niger.

“The AU condemned any unconstitutional change systematically and, therefore, condemns seizing power by force occurred in Niger, “said Ping, who called for” rapid return to constitutional order. “

The European diplomat also condemned Catherine Ashton on Friday coup and urged “all parties involved to immediately engage in a democratic process” to establish a “constitutional order” in the country.

“The EU shares the concerns of the African Union ( AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on recent developments and supports his mediation efforts, “said an EU statement.

Venezuela also condemned the coup and urged the international community to support the “reinstatement of the constitutional order.”

In a statement issued in Caracas, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry considered that the military uprising in Niger, “adds the country and the people of Niger in an uncertain path to the past (…) at a time which sought ways of reconciling the legitimate government and the opposition. “