Niger president seized in military coup

"Clearly, we do not in any way, shape or form, you know, defend violence of this nature, but clearly we think this underscores that Niger needs to move ahead with the elections and the formation of a new government," he said.

ECOWAS, which has for months tried to broker a solution to the deadlock between Tandja and the opposition, suspended Niger after Tandja extended his term. The United States terminated trade benefits, while former colonial power France also criticised Tandja last year.

Despite the political turmoil, Niger has attracted billions of dollars in investment from major international firms seeking to tap its vast mineral resources, including French nuclear plant builder Areva <CEPFi.PA> and Canada's Cameco.

Areva, which has been mining uranium in Niger for decades, is spending 1.2 billion euros ($1.79 billion) on a new mine.

China National Petroleum Corp signed a $5 billion deal there in 2008 to pump oil within three years.

Tandja has faced a rebellion by northern Tuareg-led rebels. Analysts said they were unlikely to be involved in the coup. (Additional reporting by Daniel Magnowski, David Lewis, George Fominyen, and Diadie Ba in Dakar, Kwasi Kpodo in Accra; Sophie Hardach and Yann Le Guernigou in Paris;