Armed soldiers storm Niger presidential palace

Witnesses say armed soldiers have stormed the presidential palace with guns blazing and left with the president, whose whereabouts are unknown. Moussa Mounkaila, a palace chauffeur, told The Associated Press that the gunmen showed up as a meeting of government ministers was taking place at the place.

A local journalist who was working at the palace, Traore Amadou, says President Mamadou Tandja was taken by the commandos Thursday and his whereabouts are unknown. Only months ago, a referendum allowed Tandja to extend his rule for years past the constitutional limit in the uranium-rich West African nation. (AP)