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A Niger squadron leader, Salou Djibo, was Friday named the head of a military junta that seized power from President Mamadou Tandja as the new leaders dismissed the government.
Djibo is commander of Niger's military unit in charge of heavy artillery, which played a key role in the gunbattles that toppled Tandja on Thursday.
The Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD) also announced it had dissolved the government in the west African country.
"The government is dissolved," said a statement read by an unnamed military officer on state television.
"The CSRD informs the population that public business will be run by secretaries of ministries and local government administrators."
